Odd-even rule clears millions of cars from streets of world’s filthiest city

New Delhi began a sweeping plan to reduce its record-high air pollution on Friday by limiting the numbers of cars on the streets for two weeks. The Indian capital is testing its odd-even scheme where private cars will be allowed on the roads only on alternate days from January 1 to January 15, depending on whether their licence plates end in an even or an odd number. On Friday, most cars appeared to be following the rules and traffic was a trickle compared with the usual rush-hour chaos. But with schools and colleges shut and many offices closed for the new year holiday, far fewer people were on the roads.

Studies have shown that the lungs of every third child in the city is impaired. We really are looking at a public health crisis

Environmental expert Anumita Raichaudury

The regulations came in after the World Health Organization last year named New Delhi the world’s most polluted city. The city government has announced a number of exemptions to the rules, including politicians, judges, police and prison officials, women and sick people and two-wheelers such as motorbikes and scooters. Police appeared to be keeping a low profile Friday. Except for a handful of major intersections, where police and civil defence volunteers set up checkpoints to watch for wrong-numbered licence plates, there was little official presence on the roads. When cars were pulled over, the result was almost always a warning, not the $30 fine that has been announced.

We’ll have to undertake even sterner measures in the future to safeguard our health, and especially our children’s future. It has to become a movement.

Delhi’s state chief minister Arvind Kejriwal

World