Delhi set to brace odd-even rule from Monday, CM urges people to follow it for their kids' sake

odd-even scheme in backdrop of severe air pollution in national capital will kick in from 8 am on Monday (vember 4), with only even-numbered n-transport vehicles allowed on Delhi roads on first day of exercise. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people on Sunday to follow rule for sake of ir children and city. He has also asked government machinery to ensure that person faces inconvenience due to restrictions.

opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have blamed Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for air pollution crisis and termed odd-even scheme as a stunt by ruling regime, with an eye on Assembly polls due early next year.

Under scheme, which will be implemented from 8 am to 8 pm till vember 15, n-transport four-wheeled vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will t be allowed on roads on vember 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14. Similarly, vehicles with registration numbers ending with an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) will t be allowed on roads on vember 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15.

scheme will t be implemented on vember 10 (Sunday) and restrictions will also apply to vehicles with registration numbers of or states. Hundreds of teams of Delhi Traffic Police and transport and revenue departments have been deployed for a strict implementation of odd-even scheme. Around 400 traffic inspectors and assistant traffic inspectors (ATIs) of DTC and transport department will be deployed in two shifts during drive.

ATIs and revenue department officials will issue challans to violators as well as ensure a proper enforcement of scheme at 200 locations identified by transport department, according to a government official. Delhi Traffic Police has deployed 200 teams to ensure a proper implementation of scheme and around 5,000 civil defence volunteers have been trained for deployment across city to create awareness about it.

Violators will be fined Rs 4,000. Head constables and officers of higher ranks in traffic police, sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars, ATIs and high-ranked officials of DTC have been authorised to issue challans to violators. enforcement teams of traffic police and or departments have been issued challan books, receipt books and guidelines, to be used during 12-day exercise.

In view of odd-even scheme, Delhi government has adopted staggered timings for offices of its departments. While offices of certain departments will open at 9.30 am, those of certain ors will open at 10.30 am. scheme will also test resilience of city's public transport system. Delhi government's plan to hire 2,000 private buses has resulted in partial success as only over 800 buses were registered till Sunday evening. number was likely to cross 1,000 by night, a transport department official said.

Delhi Metro will operate 61 additional trips during 11 days when odd-even scheme will be in force. However, a major burden will be borne by over 5,600 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses. Cab aggregators Ola and Uber have said y will t apply surge pricing during odd-even scheme. government has also taken steps to prevent overcharging by autorickshaws.

Two-wheelers have been exempted from restrictions, but t CNG-driven vehicles. Vehicles being used for medical emergencies and ferrying school children in uniform will be exempted. Women-only vehicles with children d up to 12 years and vehicles occupied by physically-disabled persons will also be exempted.

vehicles of president, vice president, prime minister, goverrs of states, chief justice of India, Lok Sabha speaker and deputy speaker, Union ministers, leaders of opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Supreme Court judges, chief justice and judges of Delhi High Court, Delhi lieutenant goverr, chief ministers and LGs of Union territories will also be exempted.

restrictions will t apply to vehicles of chairperson and members of Lokpal, chairperson of Union Public Service Commission, chief election commissioner and election commissioners, comptroller and auditor general of India, chairperson and members of National Green Tribunal, Lokayukta, state election commissioners of Delhi and Chandigarh.

However, vehicles of Delhi chief minister and ministers will t be exempted. Emergency vehicles including ambulances, those belonging to fire brigade, hospitals, prison and hearse vans as well as enforcement vehicles of police, transport department, paramilitary forces and those authorised by divisional commissioner will also be exempted. Vehicles bearing defence ministry number plates, diplomatic number plates, vehicles with a pilot or escort and Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees will also be exempted.