Need a month for odd-even scheme
The Delhi government stated that it needed a month to prepare before it can re-introduce the odd even scheme after the SC recommended it do so to improve the pollution situation. Government officials said they needed time to hire additional buses and security personnel. The Kejriwal government stated that "There will be chaos on (the) streets if we do not plan it well."
The Aam Aadmi Party government executed the opening phase of the odd-even initiative from January 1 to 15 to improve Delhi's toxic air, considered the worst in the world. Kejriwal had acknowledged that the first phase had not decreased the pollution as hoped. However, he insisted that the plan freed up "choked intersections and slashed traffic on Delhi's busiest stretches."
In the 2nd phase, women driven cars and those with children (wearing school uniforms) were exempted from the rule. Like the first phase, even the two-wheelers were outside the purview of odd-even.
BJP MLA Vijender Gupta said odd-even was not a lasting resolution to the national capital's traffic distress. He also said the government's aim through this plan wasn't clear. Even Delhi's ex-CM Sheila Dixit said that "if AAP thinks the odd-even is a great program, they should provide means to commute as well."
First day of the 2nd phase of odd-even saw the Delhi Traffic Police challan more than 500 people for violations. CM Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people of the city to make the 2nd phase a success. Fewer vehicles were seen on the roads because of Ram Navmi; therefore, it would be on Monday that odd-even scheme's real impact would be tested.
Cab services Ola and Uber temporarily halted the surge pricing during peak hours in the Delhi-NCR area. The move came after Delhi CM Kejriwal warned of "strict action" against them, including revocation of permits and impounding of cabs, for imposing tariffs more than the standards prescribed by the government. Riders had complained of surge pricing five times more than the normal fares.
After the Delhi government impounded 50 cabs (35 registered outside Delhi) for "overcharging", the Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai said the AAP government was planning a strategy to control the taxi aggregators. CM Kejriwal said in a tweet that "surge pricing is daylight robbery. No responsible govt can allow that". Further, the CM pointed towards a permanent ban on surge pricing.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's odd-even car rationing plan came for a scathing attack in the Lok Sabha Minister Rajesh Ranjan said that the scheme was a ploy being used by Kejriwal to get popular. The minister further quoted TERI, saying that the green tribunal had said that there was no data to imply that odd-even had brought down vehicular pollution.
On the concluding day of the second-phase of the odd-even, Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai said that there had been 99.6% compliance of the traffic rules. He said that a total 8,988 vehicles had been fined for violating odd-even rules. Rai observed that the inner circle of Delhi saw lessened pollution, however, the comprehensive data of pollution was to be released on 9 May.
2 studies have contended that the 2nd phase of the odd-even scheme saw increased pollution levels compared to "the period just before it was in force". The Energy and Resources Institute and another study by IndiaSpend, said the rise was almost 23% compared to the first fortnight of April. However, experts said that summer winds pushing emissions from neighbouring states were most likely responsible.
