Women, bikers out of Delhi's odd-even formula

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Thursday released the blueprint for its odd-even vehicle formula, which comes into force from January 1 for a 15-day trial. The formula - India's first attempt at controlling air pollution by disallowing vehicles with odd and even registration plates to ply on roads on alternate days - exempts two-wheelers and cars driven by women, besides those vehicles that are run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Any violation would attract a penalty of Rs 2,000.

Also among the 25 categories of exemptions allowed to the odd-even rule are vehicles of very important persons (VIPs), and those carrying differently-abled people, besides ambulances, fire brigade, hospital, prison and hearse vehicles.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal clarified that he and his cavalcade would not avail of the exemption offered to VIPs.

"Violators will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000," he told the media at his residence. The exemptions for VIPs would include the vehicles of the President of India, vice-president, prime minister, governors, Chief Justice of India, Lok Sabha Speaker and Union ministers. SPG protectees, the vehicles of the leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, judges of the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court will also be exempt.

Kejriwal said if the number of violators was huge, it would imply the citizens of the national capital were not in favour of the odd-even formula; this would be taken as a signal to discontinue the plan.

The car rationing scheme, which has received a mixed response from experts and general public, would apply from 8 am to 8 pm on all days except Sundays - for cars with registration number plates from the national capital region, as well as other states.

  For a woman driver, the CM clarified, the exemption would be allowed if she is accompanied by female co-passengers or children up to the age of 12 years. The cases of medical emergencies would be treated on the "basis of trust".Senior citizens, doctors and lawyers, who had petitioned the government seeking exemption, will have to abide by the regulations.

Kejriwal said the blueprint of the scheme had received all necessary approvals, including that from Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung; a notification for implementation would be issued next Monday. Transport Minister Gopal Rai said all officers of the Delhi government would follow the scheme. Embassy vehicles bearing CD numbers, cars with defence ministry number plates, vehicles with pilots or escorts have also been exempted.

Kejriwal assured that Delhi Metro would run at its peak frequency during the 15-day trial period. The announcement came a day after the national capital recorded its worst pollution level this year; there was a sharp spike in the level of suspended particulate matters on Wednesday.

As on March 31 this year, the city had a total of 8.83 million registered vehicles - including 2.64 million passenger cars and 5.68 million two-wheelers. What came to many as surprise was the fact that two-wheelers, among the biggest polluters of the city's air, were kept outside of the ambit of the odd-even formula.

According to the Delhi government's website, there were 2.72 million scooters, 2.86 million motorcycles and 105,114 mopeds registered in the city as on March 31, 2015.

EVEN THE ODDS
Vehicles registered in Delhi*

• 8,832,192: Total number of vehicles registered in the capital as on March 31, 2015
   
• 2,640,809: Number of cars registered in Delhi
   
• 5,682,006: Number of two-wheelers registered in the city
   
• 180,000: Total number of registered public transport vehicles, besides Delhi Metro services (autorickshaws, DTC buses and taxis)

* All numbers as on March 31, 2015; Sources: Dept of transport, Delhi govt; Delhi Transport Corporation