Delhi’s ‘odd, even’ curbs 8 am-8 pm, not Sunday

Providing details about the proposed curbs on private vehicles in the city from next year, the Delhi government on Tuesday said the scheme will be in force from 8 am to 8 pm from January 1 for an initial period of 15 days and there will be no restrictions on vehicular movement on Sundays. A high-level meeting, chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, also decided to enforce the restrictions date-wise as even numbered cars will be allowed to ply on even dates and odd-numbered ones will ply on odd dates.

It was decided in the meeting that in the first phase, private vehicles with odd-even registration numbers will ply on Delhi roads between January 1-15. “The impact on air pollution and lives of people will be assessed after that, following which the next decision will be taken. Odd-even vehicles will ply on roads according to dates. For example, vehicles ending with odd numbers will ply on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and so on.

Similarly, vehicles with even numbers will ply on 2nd, 4th, 6th 8th and so on,” a statement issued by the Delhi government said. After the meeting, in which all the stakeholders participated, including the Delhi police, PWD and Metro, Mr Kejriwal said his government was yet to take a call on whether the scheme will keep two-wheelers in its ambit. Transport minister Gopal Rai said the government will come out with a detailed blueprint by December 25 which will answer all the questions being raised by experts and public.

He said the AAP government will soon announce details of exemptions, like those who are ailing and disabled. A decision on whether women will be included in the “exemption list” is yet to be taken.

He said the management of Badarpur thermal power plant, which the AAP government has decided to shut, has been given seven days notice to do so. “The Delhi Metro is working on a plan to increase its operational frequency. We have also decided to bring 1,000 new cluster buses to augment public transport. We have also decided to involve around 9,000 private buses, including those serving schools for ferrying passengers,” Mr Rai said.