Video Producer: Kavisha Manwani
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
The odd-even scheme road space rationing scheme will kick in from 8 am on Monday, 4 November, with only even-numbered non-transport vehicles allowed on Delhi roads on the first day of the exercise.
Pollution level in the National Capital Region peaked to a three-year high on Sunday, 3 November, notwithstanding claims of heightened checks and curbs by authorities, while the Centre reviewed the situation with the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.
The odd-even scheme, which was first implemented in 2016 by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to combat pollution in Delhi, is all set to make a comeback from 4 November to 15 November.
There is a long list of entities who have been exempted from the Odd-Even scheme. This includes, women only drivers, two-wheelers, emergency vehicles and VIP vehicles.
RULES AND THE TIMINGS
The scheme will be implemented in Delhi from 4 November to 15 November, starting when only vehicles with odd numbers will be allowed on road on the odd dates of the calendar. On alternative days with even dates, only those vehicles with even numbers will be allowed to ply on the rounds. The rules will be effective from 8 AM to 8 PM everyday, with the exception of Sundays.
FINE AND PENALTIES
On violating the rules, people will have to bear a fine of upto Rs 4,000. There has been a hike in the penalty which was Rs 2,000 in the year 2016.
WHO ALL ARE EXEMPTED?
There is a long list of entities who have been exempted from the Odd-Even scheme. This includes, women only drivers, two-wheelers, emergency vehicles and VIP vehicles.
The vehicles of President and The Prime Minister of India are exempted as. The state governors, Chief Justice of India, Speakers of the Lok Sabha, Union ministers, and leaders of the Opposition of both the Houses, Supreme Court judges and a few other VIPs have also been exempted.
However, the ministers of Delhi including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not be exempted.
NO EXEMPTION FOR CNG VEHICLES
Unlike the previous two installments, privately-owned CNG vehicles will not be exempted from rules this time.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government would like to encourage CNG vehicle owners to consider carpooling. “There are an estimated 5 lakh CNG-run vehicles in Delhi. If stickers allowing the utilisation of such vehicles are misused, it has the potential of rendering the whole scheme ineffective,” he said.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CAB SERVICES?
Uber has offered to deploy 5,000 bike-taxis to improve first and last mile connectivity during the odd-even scheme to improve connectivity.
Even Ola has proposed to re-deploy bikes from its food delivery platform to function as bike-taxis during the 12-day period of the implementation of the rule.
The carpool and bike-sharing online platform, Quick Ride, will also waive convenience charge for its users to promote carpool during the odd-even scheme.
BUS SERVICES
Private bus operators will be providing 2,000 buses to the Delhi government. These buses will ply during peak hours on various routes.
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