In a change from its earlier plan, the Delhi government on Tuesday said private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers will ply on odd and even dates respectively from January 1.
It also said the restrictions will apply between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. while all private vehicles would ply on Sunday.
"It will be date-wise," Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, days after the government said odd numbered vehicles would ply on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those with even numbers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Rai clarified that odd numbered vehicles would be allowed on the roads on odd dates "like 1, 3, 5 and so on" and even numbered vehicles on even dates "like 2, 4, 6 and so on".
The formula would be experimented from January 1 to 15 to see if it succeeds, said Rai.
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There has also been no decision yet on the hundreds of thousands of two-wheelers which environmentalists say also contribute to pollution and need to be curbed.
The complete blueprint for the ambitious odd-even formula - including categories that would be exempt - would be ready by December 25, Rai said after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The Delhi government said it had held detailed discussions with Delhi Traffic Police and Delhi Metro to coordinate what is expected to be a mammoth exercise.
Chief Minister Kejriwal will hold a further review meeting of all departments on December 10.
The Delhi government announced the odd-even formula in response to judicial warnings of rising air pollution, and after the Delhi High Court said that the national capital was becoming a "gas chamber".
However, the decision has been challenged in the Delhi High Court and the petition is likely to be heard on Wednesday.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was stuck in traffic snarl for two hours on Monday night, acknowledged that the situation was grave.
He said that his ministry was studying the traffic of Delhi and will consult the Delhi government.
Minister Rai said 1,000 low-floor buses would be bought immediately to meet the need for more public transport when the number of vehicles falls steeply on the roads from January 1.
He also said that a shutdown-notice would be issued to coal-based Badarpur Thermal Power Station.
The government would also rope in school buses to prop up the public transport which people would heavily rely on.
He said the volunteers will be roped in to help Delhi Police enforce the ban.
Delhi has nearly 90 lakh registered vehicles, almost a third of them cars. Some 1,500 new vehicles are added every day.
