Alarming Air Quality: Odd-Even Car System Back In Delhi From November 13

New Delhi: Delhi The odd-even car rationing system is set to be back on Delhi roads in view of the worsening air quality.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday that it will be implemented in the national Capital from November 13 to November 20.

The odd-even scheme, which was first implemented in Delhi by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in 2016, restricts usage of vehicles based on last digits of their licence plates. Vehicles with licence plate numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are allowed to ply on roads on odd dates, and those ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 on even dates.

The announcement came after a high-level meeting, chaired by CM Arvind Kejriwal, on the rising AQI levels in Delhi and NCR.

Rai also said that schools of all classes, except X and XII, will remain closed till November 10. Earlier, classes from VI to XII were given the option of going online, and primary classes were ordered to stay shut till November 10.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting, the ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel cars in Delhi will continue, and there will be no construction-related work in the city.

The air quality in India’s Capital has remained alarming since becoming ‘severe’ from ‘very poor’ category on November 3.

The city recorded an overall AQI of 437 at 9 am on Monday, with most monitoring stations recording over 400 AQI, according to Central of Pollution Control Board (CPCB).