JOIN USAt the busy ITO chowk in New Delhi, even though the volunteers and traffic police were deployed in large number, it was the public which seemed to be making the plan a success.
With most cars following the odd-even rule, the media persons looked keenly at every car stopping at the traffic signal to find those violating it. They were mostly left disappointed.
“People are taking it seriously. The violation is 1 out of 100,” said Rinkoo Kumar, a Civil Defence volunteer.
“I don’t know if the plan will bring down the pollution, but it’s a good start,” said Mohit Kukreja, who had car-pooled with his friend. “Next time, we will come in my car,” he added.
Khalid Jamal was on his two-wheeler to beat the number problem. “If the government is doing something, why should not the public support,” he said.
Rishika Alakh said that women should not have been exempted from the rule. “When we cry equality in everything, why not this,” she asks. However, not everyone travelling in that route was following the government’s odd-even rule voluntarily.
“I do not think this will make any impact to the city’s air. Emissions by cars is the lowest form of pollution and the government should focus on other things instead of these undemocratic decisions. I am following it because it has been imposed,” a commuter, who did not wish to be identified, said. Another said, “Yes, I will follow it but, only because I don’t want to be challaned”.
In terms of enforcement, the traffic police seem to be lenient so that “it doesn’t lead to traffic jam.” Even volunteers were clueless about their role beside holding placards. No offering of roses to violators was seen at the chowk.
Traffic police personnel posted at Delhi’s border with Uttar Pradesh at Ghazipur were a much relieved after car users mostly complied with the odd-even rule.“You can yourself see the difference on road. On a normal day at this time, we usually see line of vehicles moving bumper to bumper, but today the traffic is moving smoothly,’’ said a Delhi Traffic Police Head Constable posted at NH-24 near Ghazipur.
Helped by a team of volunteers standing with placards and red roses in their hands at different traffic intersections, traffic police personnel refrained from prosecuting the defaulters at the first instance and persuaded the few who were driving with the wrong numbered cars to go back or park the car somewhere and take public transport.
However, despite all the precautions and persuasion some people did break the rule, and their reasons were as interesting as the methods of the authorities to stop them in doing it. In some cases, CNG cars not sporting the CNG sticker were stopped, but let go after knowing that they were the CNG ones.
“On Monday, when the hectic weekday begins, the Delhi government’s odd-even car scheme will be put to real test. It is to be seen whether the city’s public transport system will be able to absorb the burden of extra commuters during rush hours or not,” said Tushar Jha, a DU student..