Exemptions would compromise effectiveness of oddeven plan: CSE

A city-based green body today extended support to the odd-even scheme proposed by the Delhi government to curb pollution but expressed disappointment over the range of exemptions granted to several vehicle segments, saying such a condition would "compromise" the effectiveness of the plan.
"CSE expresses disappointment at the range of exemptions granted to different vehicle segments - most notably the two-wheelers and single women-driven cars. This creates loopholes and leakages in the programme that can compromise the overall effectiveness of the programme," Centre for Science and Environment said.
These exemptions can "seriously compromise" the effectiveness of this emergency action needed to control the peak pollution levels during winters, it said.

CSE estimates have shown that two-wheelers because of their staggering numbers, contribute as much as 31 per cent of the total particulate load from vehicles.
"If this segment is left out and a sizeable number of cars are also allowed because of the exemption granted to single women drivers, the overall effectiveness of the programme will be compromised.
"It cannot act as an emergency measure to bring down the peak pollution level. CSE would like to urge the government to bring two-wheelers within the mandate of this programme," it said.

CSE said that the government must take into account the fact that once this programme gets implemented and personal vehicles numbers on the roads are halved, road space will be freed up for more improved operations of all buses, autos and taxis.

It said that the existing and the augmented bus numbers can do more trips and carry more people and currently, the fleet utilisation of available bus fleet in Delhi is very poor and a large number of bus trips are missed because of congestion.
"With traffic volumes halved, bus services can be augmented. Moreover, additional buses, pooling and sharing of two-wheelers and cars will further improve the overall carrying capacity of the available fleet," Executive Director, CSE, Anumita Roy Chowdhury said.