Odd-Even rule back in Delhi as air quality depletes: all you need to know

New Delhi: In an attempt to curb the hazardous air quality, Delhi government brought the odd-even scheme back at 8 AM on Monday. This is the 3rd round of the odd-even implementation in Delhi. From 8 am to 8 pm, the rule will be in place till November 15. On Sunday, November 10, the scheme will not be in place. Today, only even-numbered non-transport vehicles will be allowed on Delhi roads.

Odd-even scheme is a measure by Delhi government. The rules state that private vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will be allowed on roads on odd dates and those with an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) on even dates. Vehicles with registration numbers of other states are also expected to adhere to the rules.

While the odd-even scheme was put in place for two reasons - both due to the bad air quality and to control excessive traffic, this time it is solely to curb the hazardous air quality in the country's capital. Pollution level in Delhi was at a three-year high on Sunday. Central government reviewed the situation with the Delhi, Haryana and Punjab state governments. An announcement about Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba would monitoring on a daily basis was made.

Rains on Saturday put the air quality index (AQI) below 400, but the index came back to 625 pushing Delhi back into the severe plus category.

The odd-even vehicle rationing scheme will only be implemented on "non-transport four-wheeled vehicles".

Vehicles exempted from the rule include All two-wheelers, emergency vehicles, vehicles carrying school students, electric vehicles, vehicles of Delhi police paramilitary forces, Army, Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Minister, Governors and President.

In case of a medical emergency, people will be allowed to move on the road with a self-declaration. Persons with disabilities and the vehicles carrying school students will be exempted from the rationing scheme.

The Delhi government has also announced staggered working hours of its offices following the implementation of the odd-even scheme. The staggering of working hours is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and pollution in the city.

21 government offices have office timings from 10.30 am to 7 pm and the rest from 9.30 am to 6 pm during the implementation of the 12-day odd-even scheme.

The violators will be penalized Rs 4,000 by the enforcement agencies.

Environmental marshals who will check on the garbage burning and violation of the anti-pollution norms have been deployed. "We will deploy 200 teams across the city for smooth implementation of the odd-even scheme," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Taj Hassan said.

The chief minister Arivnd Kejriwal, deputy chief minister and the ministers themselves will pool their car. The entire cabinet is going to follow the rules too.

500 extra buses for different routes to accommodate maximum commuters. App based taxi providers Ola and Uber have ensured that there will be no surge pricing or overcharging during the odd-even scheme.