1st day of odd-even scheme highly successful: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

19:15 November 04

1st day of odd-even scheme has been successful: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia: People of Delhi have owned up the Odd-Even scheme. There has been high level of compliance till now. The first day has been highly successful. Total 192 challans have been issued today till now.

16:53 November 04

SC seeks data proving the success of odd-even scheme in curbing pollution

SC directs the Delhi government to produce data or records proving the success of odd-even scheme in curbing air pollution in Delhi by Friday.

 

16:19 November 04

What is the logic behind odd-even scheme: SC asks Delhi govt

"What is the logic behind odd-even scheme? Banning diesel vehicles we can understand, but what is the point of odd-even scheme," said Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra to Delhi government.

14:45 November 04

Goel defies, Gahlot tries to coax him

High drama was witnessed as BJP leader Vijay Goel defied the Odd-Even scheme of Delhi government, following which city Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot went to his residence to persuade him not to oppose the move.

Within hours of Goel's move, Gahlot went to the residence of Goel with a bouquet of flowers and said, "I have come to convince you to not oppose the Delhi government's move meant to curb air pollution."

In response, Goel said, "You are late. You people (Delhi government) informed the press about the Odd-Even and not me. You have come for the first time in last five years."

Responding to Goel, Gahlot said, "Delhi government has done a lot of work to curb air pollution in the city. Delhi government also made requests to the Central government over stubble burning during Diwali due to which people around Delhi get affected.

13:32 November 04

I am happy that people are cooperating with us: Kejriwal

Talking about the odd-even scheme, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said: "Everyday 30 lakh cars ply on Delhi roads, and due to this odd-even scheme, at least 15 lakh cars will be off the roads, so yes this will help in lowering pollution levels. I am happy that people are cooperating with us."

"27 lakh farmers in Punjab and Haryana, in 2 years only 63,000 farmers have been given machines which have methods to use stubble instead of burning it. So at this speed it will take 30 years to give it to every farmer. Centre needs to prepare a month-wise schedule for it, "he further added.

13:09 November 04

Vijay Goel violates odd-even scheme

BJP leader Vijay Goel who left his house in an odd-numbered car to protest against the odd-even scheme issued a challan for violation of the scheme.

Goel, MP and former Union Minister, commuted along with the Delhi BJP in-charge Shyam Jaju, in his odd number car to ITO in defiance of the Odd-Even scheme, which he described as a "drama" ahead of the Assembly elections in the national capital.

12:55 November 04

Delhi CM follows odd-even scheme, visits office in an even-numbered car

The number of vehicles on roads came down significantly on Monday with only even number cars plying in the national capital on the first day of government's odd-even road rationing scheme.

Kejriwal carpooled with Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain and Labour Minister Gopal Rai to reach the Delhi Secretariat. 

While Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia rode a bicycle to from his residence, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot travelled in his OSD's car to reach the secretariat. 

 "I have been on Delhi roads for almost two hours and I am happy that basic compliance is being done and most of the vehicles are even numbers. I thank all Delhiites for their cooperation," Gahlot said. 

10:34 November 04

Manish Sisodia leaves for his office on a bicycle

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, leaves for his office on a bicycle, from his residence in Delhi.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, "Cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Patna are also facing pollution due to stubble burning. Arvind Kejriwal is being blamed for everything. BJP leaders should resign if they want the needful to be done by Arvind Kejriwal."

09:42 November 04

Following scheme for next 10 days, will give some relief: Sisodia

Speaking to media on the Odd-Even scheme, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia said: "North India has been engulfed in smoke caused by stubble burning, right now we can't do anything about that, but if we follow the scheme for next 10 days, it will give some relief. It is for everybody's benefit."

09:39 November 04

Traffic police fines driver for breaking odd-even scheme rule in Delhi

Traffic Police in Delhi fined a driver for using an odd-numbered vehicle near India Gate. 

The driver of the vehicle said, "I live in Noida, I had come for some work last night, I was not aware of the fact that Odd-Even scheme is coming into effect from today."

07:05 November 04

Odd-even rule kicks in as pollution in Delhi remains severe

The odd-even road rationing scheme, an anti-pollution measure, kicked in from 8 am on Monday in the city, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urging people to follow it for the sake of their family and kids.

Under the scheme, apart from exempted categories, only those non-transport four-wheeled vehicles will ply on the roads which have registration numbers ending with an even digit.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city at 7:30 am stood at 439, which falls in the "severe" category. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.

"Namaste Delhi, odd-even is starting from today to reduce pollution. Please do follow it for yourself, your family, kids and your breath. Share cars. It will strengthen friendship, form relations, save petrol and pollution," Kejriwal said in an early morning tweet in Hindi.

Violations of the odd-even rule will invite a fine of Rs 4,000. Over 600 teams of Delhi Traffic Police and the transport and revenue departments have been deployed for a strict implementation of the scheme across the city.

The odd-even scheme is a traffic rationing measure by Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government under which private vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will be allowed on roads on odd dates and those with an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) on even dates. The rules will also apply to the vehicles with registration numbers of other states.

02:12 November 04

Electric vehicles exempted from Odd-Even restrictions

Representational Image

The Delhi government on Sunday decided to exempt electric vehicles from the odd-even road rationing scheme starting from today.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot in a statement said that the number of registered electric vehicles in the city was less than 1,000 and they are not likely to cause any congestion.

23:00 November 03

BJP MP Vijay Goel says will violate odd-even scheme; claims it an election stunt

BJP parliamentarian Vijay Goel on Sunday said he would violate the rule and alleged that it was an "election stunt" of the Kejriwal government.

"My violation of odd-even scheme of the Kejriwal government will be symbolic because it's an election stunt and drama in view of the assembly election," Goel told media, adding that he would ride an odd-numbered vehicle on even day.

The Rajya Sabha member had broken the odd-even rule and paid a fine of Rs 2000 when the scheme was implemented by the Kejriwal government in April 2016.
Vote bank politics has "blurred" the rationality of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Goel alleged.

"With exemptions to 70 lakh two-wheelers, cab aggregators Ola and Uber, three-wheelers and women drivers, the odd-even scheme has been rendered a mere gimmick and an election stunt," he said.
 

22:02 November 03

What is the logic behind odd-even scheme: SC asks Delhi govt

New Delhi:The odd-even scheme in the backdrop of the severe air pollution in the national capital will kick in from 8 am today, with only even-numbered non-transport vehicles allowed on Delhi roads on the first day of the exercise.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people on Sunday to follow the rule for the sake of their children and the city. He has also asked the government machinery to ensure that no person faces inconvenience due to the restrictions.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have blamed the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for the air pollution crisis and termed the odd-even scheme as a stunt by the ruling regime, with an eye on the Assembly polls due early next year.

Under the scheme, which will be implemented from 8 am to 8 pm till November 15, non-transport four-wheeled vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will not be allowed on the roads on November 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14.

Similarly, vehicles with registration numbers ending with an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) will not be allowed on the roads on November 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. The scheme will not be implemented on November 10 (Sunday) and the restrictions will also apply to the vehicles with registration numbers of other states.

Hundreds of teams of Delhi Traffic Police and the transport and revenue departments have been deployed for strict implementation of the odd-even scheme. Around 400 traffic inspectors and assistant traffic inspectors (ATIs) of the DTC and the transport department will be deployed in two shifts during the drive.

The ATIs and revenue department officials will issue challans to the violators as well as ensure proper enforcement of the scheme at 200 locations identified by the transport department, according to a government official.

Delhi Traffic Police has deployed 200 teams to ensure proper implementation of the scheme and around 5,000 civil defence volunteers have been trained for deployment across the city to create awareness about it.

Violators will be fined Rs 4,000. Head constables and officers of higher ranks in the traffic police, sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars, ATIs and high-ranked officials of the DTC have been authorised to issue challans to the violators.

The enforcement teams of the traffic police and other departments have been issued challan books, receipt books and guidelines, to be used during the 12-day exercise.

In view of the odd-even scheme, the Delhi government has adopted staggered timings for the offices of its departments. While the offices of certain departments will open at 9.30 am, those of certain others will open at 10.30 am. The scheme will also test the resilience of the city's public transport system.

The Delhi government's plan to hire 2,000 private buses has resulted in partial success as only over 800 buses were registered till Sunday evening. The number was likely to cross 1,000 by the night, a transport department official said.

Delhi Metro will operate 61 additional trips during the 11 days when the odd-even scheme will be in force. However, a major burden will be borne by over 5,600 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses. Cab aggregators Ola and Uber have said they will not apply surge pricing during the odd-even scheme. The government has also taken steps to prevent overcharging by autorickshaws.

Two-wheelers have been exempted from the restrictions, but not CNG-driven vehicles. Vehicles being used for medical emergencies and ferrying school children in uniform will be exempted. Women-only vehicles with children aged up to 12 years and vehicles occupied by physically-disabled persons will also be exempted.

The vehicles of the president, vice president, prime minister, governors of the states, chief justice of India, Lok Sabha speaker and deputy speaker, Union ministers, leaders of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Supreme Court judges, chief justice and judges of the Delhi High Court, Delhi lieutenant governor, chief ministers and LGs of the Union territories will also be exempted.

The restrictions will not apply to the vehicles of the chairperson and members of the Lokpal, chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission, chief election commissioner and election commissioners, comptroller and auditor general of India, chairperson and members of the National Green Tribunal, Lokayukta, state election commissioners of Delhi and Chandigarh.

However, the vehicles of the Delhi chief minister and ministers will not be exempted. Emergency vehicles including ambulances, those belonging to the fire brigade, hospitals, prison and hearse vans as well as the enforcement vehicles of the police, transport department, paramilitary forces and those authorised by the divisional commissioner will also be exempted.

Vehicles bearing defence ministry number plates, diplomatic number plates, vehicles with a pilot or escort and Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees will also be exempted. 

Read: LIVE: Pollution levels spike up, Air Quality Index reaches 1000