The odd-even vehicle rationing scheme will be enforced in the capital for a five-day period, beginning Monday, as part of a graded response plan to tackle pollution in Delhi, the government announced on Thursday.
The scheme, which will come into effect on November 13 and continue till November 17, both days included, will be in place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Women drivers, two-wheelers and vehicles carrying children in school uniform, in addition to VVIPs, would be exempted from its provisions, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said.
The policy mandates that private vehicles ply on the basis of the last number of their licence plates — odd numbered cars on odd dates and even-numbered ones on even dates — and has been enforced in Delhi twice earlier: from January 1 to 15 and April 15 to 30.
Motorists will have to pay ₹2,000 if they violate provisions of the scheme, which will be enforced by teams of the Delhi police, the transport department and sub-divisional magistrates.
“The exemptions will be similar to last year and there is no need for people to panic,” he told reporters, adding that CNG vehicles having valid stickers would be exempt. The Minister also added that the Delhi government would not allow cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola to resort to surge pricing during the period in Delhi.
“I have called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber tomorrow (Friday) to ensure that there is no surge pricing during the odd-even,” Mr. Gahlot said. This was followed by an announcement from Uber to the effect that it would not levy dynamic or surge pricing till such time as the scheme was in place.
According to the government, vehicles of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, Governors, the Chief Justice of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Union Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and SPG protectees, among others, will be exempt. Embassy vehicles do not come under odd-even rules and neither do commercial vehicles bearing yellow number plates.
However, the Delhi government has not given any exemption to its Ministers, including the Chief Minister. Women only vehicles, including children of age up to 12 years, travelling with them will be exempted. Vehicles driven or occupied by handicapped persons will also be exempt.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gahlot sought to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a meeting of Chief Ministers of Delhi and adjoining States to find a solution to the crisis.
He further said the Delhi government had directed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to hire 500 buses from private contractors to tackle the rush of commuters during the odd-even week.
“Delhi Metro has also promised to provide 100 small buses during the period. Schools will be free to provide their buses voluntarily. However, there will be no compulsion,” Mr. Gahlot said.
