Odd-Even: Delhiites Opt for Leave, Work From Home to Avoid Chaos

Heavy traffic moves along a busy road during the evening in New Delhi. (File photo: Reuters) 

As residents of Delhi gear-up to face the even-odd restrictions for cars that comes into effect for 15 days starting from Friday, there are some who have taken leave from work in the anticipation of inconvenience that maybe caused by the odd-even scheme.

Fearing that the trial period will divert a lot of crowd towards taking public transportation and fewer auto-rickshaws and cabs, some are taking long breaks, while other are contemplating working half day or working from home.

An official from the Ministry of Urban Development said he might take a leave from work:

<p>I am trying to prepare myself to use public transport when the even-odd scheme is put in place. However, the public transport is going to be equally crowded and if it gets too inconvenient, I may rather take leave.</p>

A defence ministry official who did not want to be named said he was thinking of taking partial leave during the period:

<p>Although I use car only 10 days a month to reach office, I don’t think travelling in public transport during the odd-even scheme days will be a good idea since there will be excess of rush in metros and buses. My vehicle is registered with even number, so during odd days maybe I will take an off or half day.</p>

Augustine Antony, a market research analyst said, “I have to travel from Dwarka to Nehru Place and I travel in the peak hour...so I would work from home on days when I cannot use my car.”

Sanchari Sinha, an IT professional also has similar plans. “I have to travel to Gurgaon everyday. We have been given the option to work from home and I am availing that,” she said.

The odd-even system will be implemented in Delhi from January 1, 2016. The decision was taken by the Delhi government to curb the rising pollution levels in the city.

In a bid to free-up enough buses to add 6,000 more to the Delhi roads, the government has said that schools will remain closed for the period and their buses will be used to ferry the extra passengers around the city.