Physical Wellness

Limiting Cars in the Indian Capital City for 2 Weeks to Help Make the Air Cleaner

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Jan 06, 2016 09:00 AM EST

The capital city of India, New Delhi, initiated the much talked-about plan to reduce the high air pollution by reducing the number of cars on streets of Delhi for 2 weeks. The city is trying to test a formula where the private cars will be allowed to ply on the road on alternate days starting from 1st Jan to 15th Jan, based on their license plate numbers ending in an odd number or even number. Friday appeared to be a good start for the scheme as the people followed the rules and the traffic was a lot less than what it normally is. However, since the schools and colleges were shut, it was unclear to say whether or not the new plan was effective. Even offices were closed in Delhi due to new year. It is hard to say how much of the reduced traffic can be attributed to the odd/Even scheme by Delhi government, as reported by Washington Post. It is only the weekdays that can test real potential of this plan in terms of public transit system.

Even though the first day of Aam Admi Party, Delhi's government, odd-even scheme may have seen its share of success, however, reports say that the pollution levels were no better and were actually higher on Friday than other days. There will be exemptions for some people in this rule that include politicians, police, prison officials, sick people, women and people using motorbikes, reported Press Telegraph.

WHO ranks Delhi as the worst city in the world whose air quality is worse than Beijing. "Air pollution levels in different parts of Delhi on December 31, 2015, were more or less similar to the previous day and violated the prescribed limits", said Press Telegraph.

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