Odd-even failed this time: Delhiites

Despite the Delhi government tall claims that the second phase of the ambitious odd-even road-rationing scheme is a huge success, parents of schoolchildren and office-goers claimed that the scheme has failed to solve the purpose as neither pollution nor traffic congestion have reduced in the city.

However, Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said that the exam of second phase of the car-rationing scheme was difficult and Delhiites have passed despite challenges of hot weather and opening of schools, compared to the first phase.

Mona Pandey, a mother of two school-going girls, said that she faced tough time sending her daughters to school. “The government has introduced the scheme without any planning and providing alternate arrangements. Parents like me who do not use to drive struggled daily to drop their child to school. I had to hire a cab to drop and pick my children from school which is expensive,” added Mrs Pandey.

Another parent, Subhash Jha said that the government should test such a scheme during the vacation not when schools are open. “Because of the government’s impractical decision not only children but parents also faced a lot of hardships during the second phase of the odd-even scheme. Several reports claimed that pollution levels have increased during the period and everyone faced traffic congestion across the city. When the scheme has failed to address both the issues then what is the purpose to implement such scheme,” added Mr Jha.

The second phase of the odd-even scheme, implemented to improve Delhi’s air quality, saw a rise of nearly 23 per cent in pollution levels compared to the first 15 days of April when the scheme was not in force, a study has claimed. The study by IndiaSpend, a portal that runs a network of “low cost sensors” across the national capital, said the average PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations in the city’s air were 68.98 and 134.39 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) between April 15 and 29 indicating moderate conditions, as against 56.17 and 110.04 ug/m3 during the first 15-days of the month.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, congratulated Delhiites for making the second phase of odd-even scheme a “success” and the fate of its next edition will be decided only after a report of comparative study of the two phases by a committee set up by the government. “Today is the last day of odd-even II. Congratulations Delhi for again making it a success,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

The transport minister claimed that the compliance rate of the scheme was 99.6 per cent, which indicates that people followed the odd-even scheme and people made history by following the fortnight-long car-ration scheme which ends on Saturday.

Mr Rai said that after implementing two phases of odd-even scheme, we have two models — one is summer and the second one is winter. “The six-member committee, which was recently constituted to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather during the second phase, has been asked to do a comparative study on first and second phase of the scheme. It has been asked to submit its report on May 10,” added Mr Rai.

The Delhi government will organise a “thanksgiving event” at Chhatrasal Stadium on May 4 to thank all those who participated in making the second phase of odd-even scheme a success.