Odd-Even Formula: Int’l Media Hails Delhi’s Car Rationing Scheme
02 January, New Delhi
Delhi government’s ambitious 15-day Odd-Even car trial scheme, that kicked off on the first day of New Year to restrict the number of vehicles in the capital to cut vehicular emissions, has been hailed by the International media as an ‘innovative idea’.
”Overwhelmed” by the response of the people to the experiment, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters that the pilot initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has turned ”into a movement”.
Apart from Twitteratti, the car-rationing scheme received a word of praise from various media publications across the world.
“Indian capital starts limiting cars for 2 weeks to clear air,” said the headline of one of the leading US satellite news channel, Fox News.
Lauding the initiative, the article further said, “The plan represents the most dramatic effort the city has undertaken to combat pollution since a court order in 1998 mandated that all public transport run on CNG. The result was almost always a warning, not the 30 dollar fine that has been announced.”
Leading Pakistan Newspaper, The Dawn’s report on the coverage of Delhi Odd Even Scheme said, “Hundreds of traffic police and volunteers took to the streets to enforce the scheme, including dozens of children wearing smog masks and holding banners urging drivers to comply.”
Israel based broadsheet newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, writes, “Official data showed the pollution load was reduced by some 10 per cent, with about 200 people fined for breaking the new regulation on its first day of implementation on Friday.”
Chinese media praised the ‘car-pooling’ initiative, taken by the Cabinet Ministers of Delhi government, including Mr Kejriwal who car-pooled with two of his cabinet ministers on January 1. China’s Daily Asia headline says, “Delhi ministers carpool to office under odd-even rule.”
As per the scheme, from January 1-15 , number plates ending with odd numbers – one, three, five, seven and nine – will be allowed on odd dates while number plates ending with even numbers – zero, two, four, six and eight – will be allowed on even dates.
The rule would be in place from 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs every day except Sunday. The trial will run for an initial two-week period barring exemptions to catagories like VIPs, women, CNG vehicles, emergency vehicles and two wheelers.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) last year named New Delhi as the world’s most polluted city. The pollution is at its worst in the winter, with grey skies and a dense cover of smog through the early morning hours.The Delhi government announced the odd-even scheme after a court ordered authorities to tackle pollution levels which was more than 10 times the World Health Organisation’s safe limits.