Odd-even car ban is back in new effort to clean up world’s most polluted city

Use of private cars is to be restricted again in Delhi in another effort to clean up toxic air in the world’s most polluted city. For two weeks from April 15, cars will only be allowed on the road on alternate days, going by whether their number plates are odd or even. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said his plans had overwhelming public support and were necessary to rein in the rising levels of air pollution that regularly cloak the city in smog. It follows a two-week trial at the beginning of January that took more than a million cars off the roads each day.

We are seriously considering if we can do this for 15 days every month. We can’t do this on a permanent basis until we get better public transport.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal

Doctors say Delhi’s 16 million residents are at risk of suffering irreversible lung damage and some children there already have the lungs of chain smokers During last month’s trial, most drivers followed the rules, with traffic sharply reduced from the usual rush-hour chaos although data showed little impact on air pollution. Following criticism over exemptions for women, politicians, judges, police and motorbikes, the Delhi government has said it is reviewing who will be exempt this time. "We will request VIPs to voluntarily follow the odd-even rule,“ Mr Kejriwal added. "Last time the chief justice and other judges followed it. Some of them even biked to work.”

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