Today is a big day for Delhi. The day when the odd even car rationing system finally starts. So here’s everything you need to know about it:
- Only cars with odd number plates will be allowed to run on odd days, and cars with even number plates will run on even days.
- The rules shall imply from 8 am to 8 pm.
- A fine of 2000 shall be payed by offenders.
- Two wheelers, emergency vehicles, cars with only women passengers or women and children below 12 years, and VIP vehicles will be exempted from this rule.
Now here’s why banning certain cars on road is not a good idea:
Delhi’s air pollution levels are highest in the world and. Here is a surprise for the entire population thinking odd even rationing is a good idea – four wheelers are not the prime reason for it. Dust, trucks and two wheelers are the actual air killers. 2 wheelers comprise 54% of Delhi’s vehicular fleet, and the four wheelers (which are unjustly facing the flak for air pollution) constitute merely 30% of the total vehicles in Delhi.
Similar traffic restrictions imposed on other cities did not see significant improvement as car owners begin making more trips during their unrestricted period. Residents bought second hand cars that had the other number plate.
Moreover, is it humanely possibly for a cop to check out on all the number plates and spot cars breaking the law, even when Delhi police is facing staff shortage? The police already have an increased work load.
People with lots of money (which Delhi certainly does not lack at) will buy two cars, and if not two cars, two number plates (illegally). If even that does not work out for them, they’ll bring out their cars anyway on the roads, and if found guilty, they’ll bribe the officer. If somehow, the officer refuses to get bribed, how difficult is it to get Rs. 2000 out of a rich man’s pocket?
In this week, government’s e-auction for number plates saw a 3 time increase. 156 people were willing to spend 20,000 rupees on registration number of their choice. Before this, the highest in a week was 55.
This scheme is directly linked to more commuters switching over to bicycles, but no bicycle or pedestrian paths were constructed on any of the new roads or fly-overs constructed during Shiela Dikshit’s term.
There are 8 roads with separate lanes for bicycles, but the Delhi govt. needs to build 200 bicycle stands near metro stations and bus stops to meet with the increasing numbers of bicycles.
The Delhi government would need to increase last mile connectivity with greater provisions being made for cyclists and by increasing metro feeder buses, but the plan would only work out if there’s less congestion on roads.
Commuters would certainly not want to travel in the already stuffed up Delhi govt. buses and metros. Hence, they would be left with cabs and auto rickshaws. With an increased demand, the fare prices will show a high boom.
The plan will fail to pick up immediately, and won’t prove efficient in the long run. What the Delhi government needs right now is a holistic approach to the pollution problem surrounding the city. It must be realized that four wheelers have only a small hand in the air pollution that Delhi is engulfed in.
Banning non Delhi trucks from entering the city, aggressive and time bound action plan to plant more trees, monitoring construction sites for road dust, vacuuming toads during off peak hours, paving artillery roads can be some small measures that would show results immediately and effectively.
The government must start charging a congestion tax and do away with cheap parking in market places, and increase road tax. But the government is afraid to take these measures as increased taxation and rise in fuel prices will lead to electoral losses.
Though this law can certainly bring down pollution levels, the difference would be negligible for a city as much affected by air pollution as Delhi. Its cons will go heavy on its pros.
And here again by this decision, the Delhi Chief Minister has proved his impracticality and inexperience that show his incompetency to rule the national capital.
