Odd-even formula: 10 lakh private vehicles in Delhi to go off roads daily from Jan 1

New Delhi, Dec 13: Nearly 10 lakh private cars will daily stay off the roads in the national capital once the odd- even formula is enforced from January 1, with the drastic reduction in traffic flow expected to significantly reduce the high-level of pollution in the city.

There are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi and nearly half of these will go off the roads with the implementation of AAP government's ambitious odd-even formula.

"Nineteen lakh private four-wheelers, including cars, jeeps, vans are registered in the national capital. "After implementation of the odd-even scheme from January 1, around 10-lakh odd-numbered cars will go off the city's roads on even dates and vice versa during a 15-day trial period," a top official told PTI.

According to an IIT-Kanpur study, vehicular emissions make the national capital's air abysmally poor during the winter months.

The Arvind Kejriwal government is yet to decide on a policy for the large number of private four-wheelers entering the national capital from cities within its vicinity like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat.

The government has to take a decision also on the approximately 57-lakh bikes and scooters here. Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has said that the government will come out with a final plan for the implementation of the odd-even formula before December 25 and strictly implement it in order to clean the city's air.

"All the departments concerned have been asked to suggest ways to successfully implement the government's ambitious scheme.

"DTC has been directed to engage private buses and school buses under cluster scheme so that people don't face problems while using public transport from January 1 to January 15," the official also said.

The AAP government is studying three existing Acts -- Environment Protection Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Motor Vehicles Act -- under which it can impose a penalty on those found violating the odd-even rule.

PTI