Last Updated: 04 Oct 2023
Great Delhi Smog 2016 saw 6 days of AQI over 500 in Delhi.[1]
Private cars with odd-numbered registration plates operated only on odd days and even numbered only on even days between 8 AM and 8 PM
Odd-even scheme saw 18% less day-time pollution compared to surrounding regions in Jan 2016[2]
¶ Timelines
January 1-15, 2016: The first implementation of the Odd-Even scheme took place from January 1 to January 15, 2016
April 15-30, 2016: A second round of the Odd-Even scheme was implemented from April 15 to April 30, 2016
November 13-17, 2017: A shorter version of the Odd-Even scheme was implemented from November 13 to November 17, 2017, in response to severe smog conditions
March 4-15, 2019: The Odd-Even scheme was implemented again from March 4 to March 15, 2019
¶ Implementation & Exemptions
- In this trial period, all vehicles operating on compressed natural gas were exempted from this scheme
- In addition, cars driven by women and selected very important officials were exempted along with ambulance, police, military, and other emergency vehicles
- In the first phase of Delhi odd even rule, 10,058 vehicles were fined and in the second phase, 8,988 vehicles were fined
¶ Great Delhi Smog 2016
- During November 1-7, 2016, Delhi residents were caught in a case of what has been termed as a severe air pollution episode (SAPE) or the ‘Great Delhi Smog’[1:1]
- Schools were closed following six days of heavy smog and concentrations of harmful particles so high they cannot be measured by most air quality instruments[3]
-- The air quality index (AQI) exceeded 500[1:2]
-- The level of PM2.5 pollutants had reached at least 999 in parts of the city, which are the most harmful because they can reach deep into the lungs and breach the blood-brain barrier. The reading was more than 16 times the safe limit of 60[3:1]
¶ Results
- Decrease of up to 18% reduction reported in pollution during day time and overall an 11% reduction compared to surrounding regions in January 2016 [2:1]
- Uber Delhi real-time traffic revealed, average speeds went up by a statistically significant 5.4%
- Congestion itself reduces pollution as all vehicles (not just cars) spend less time on the road idling and in slow-moving traffic
- As reported in January 1 2016, overall, there was a 10-13 per cent more relative decline in Delhi compared to neighbouring areas
¶ Challenges
Data Interpretation:
- Disagreements centered on the policy's role compared to other factors influencing air quality[4]
- Mr Kejriwal had said that odd-even cannot be a long-term remedy and public transport system needed to be strengthened[5]
Exemptions and VIP Treatment:
- The exemptions and relaxations resulted in 5.3 million (63%) of the 8.4 million private vehicles (28 lakh cars and 55 lakh motorcycles and scooters) registered in Delhi being affected by the OE scheme[6]
- Criticism emerged due to perceived preferential treatment of certain groups like government officials, women driving alone, and two-wheelers who were exempt from the Odd-Even rule
- This raised concerns about fairness and VIP culture. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, which has supported the odd-even plan, two-wheelers are responsible for 31% of particulate matter pollution from vehicles[7]
Inadequate Public Transport:[8] [9]
- The policy highlighted the limited capacity and efficiency of Delhi's public transportation system
- Critics argued that insufficient options hindered the scheme's effectiveness in promoting alternative transportation
¶ References
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/what-caused-the-great-delhi-smog-of-nov-2016/article30248782.ece ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207233.2016.1153901?journalCode=genv20 ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/06/delhi-air-pollution-closes-schools-for-three-days ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-data-is-unambiguous-the-odd-even-policy-failed-to-lower-pollution-in-delhi/ ↩︎
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/odd-even-heres-what-happened-when-delhi-adopted-odd-even-scheme-in-the-past-1773371 ↩︎
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1309104218300308 ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-odd-even-exemptions-for-vips-bikes-face-criticism/story-AZns3sPNuTKsrygV5DRQtN.html ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/success-of-odd-even-rule-will-depend-on-availability-of-public-transport-experts-opinion/story-QTmvov682NK2ZwkBfH3dYI.html ↩︎
https://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/public-transport-in-delhi-insufficient-says-hc-may-end-oddeven-rule ↩︎
