Delhi government has announced the implementation of the odd-even vehicle system for one week from November 13 to 20 in view of the deteriorating air quality. This was announced by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai after a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several other senior officials.
The odd-even vehicle system is a traffic rationing measure under which private vehicles with registration plates ending in odd numbers are allowed on odd dates and those with even registration numbers are allowed on even dates. The system is implemented when the air quality in Delhi reaches severe levels.
The Delhi government has implemented the odd-even vehicle system on several occasions in the past in an attempt to reduce vehicular pollution. However, the effectiveness of the system has been debated, with some experts arguing that it has only a marginal impact on air quality.
In his announcement, Rai said that the odd-even vehicle system was being implemented to “reduce vehicular pollution and improve air quality in Delhi.” He also said that the government was taking other steps to control air pollution, such as banning firecrackers and construction activities during winter months.
Rai also said that to prioritise the health of schoolchildren, the government has decided to suspend in-person classes in all schools, except for students of grades X and XII preparing for board exams.
Impact of the Odd-Even Vehicle System
The impact of the odd-even vehicle system on air quality has been the subject of much debate. Some studies have shown that the system has a small but measurable impact on reducing air pollution. A study by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi found that the odd-even vehicle system reduced PM2.5 levels by 10-15% during the winter months of 2016-17.
However, other studies have found that the impact of the odd-even vehicle system on air quality is limited. A study by the Energy and Resources Institute found that the odd-even vehicle system had a negligible impact on air quality during the winter months of 2017-18.