How Effective Is the Odd-Even Formula In Curbing Pollution?

The Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Union Territory of Delhi, which first introduced the Odd-Even formula for vehicles in January this year, has brought it into force once again. This is meant to cut down the rising pollution levels in the city by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

PropGuide examines the existing laws governing vehicles in the country and the need for introducing the Odd-Even formula.

Governing speed

The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, are some of the laws that govern motor vehicles in the country. State-level pollution control boards have also been constituted to control pollution-causing activities. A pollution under control certificate is mandatory for every vehicle after the expiry of a specified period of one year from the date when the vehicle was first registered. The government also notifies several emission guidelines from time to time. However, all this has been of little effect in bringing down the pollution levels.

The rule and the exception

Under the formula, vehicles with odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) as their last digit are allowed to ply on odd-number dates (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31) of a month, and vehicles with even numbers (0,2,4,6,8) as their last digit are allowed to ply on dates with even numbers (2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30). Applicable from 8 am to 8 pm, the rule takes a holiday on Sunday. Any violation may cost you a fine of Rs 2,000 according to sub-section (1) of section 194 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Road-rationing plans with similar features have also been tried in other places like Mexico, Paris, Beijing, etc.

To ensure that functioning of essential services is not affected, certain exemptions have been allowed in the policy itself. These include:

• Non-pollution-causing vehicles like the CNG, electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Two-wheelers
• Vehicles driven by women and having only women and children (below 12 years) as passengers.
• Vehicles carrying passengers on a medical emergency.
• Vehicles for use of the physically challenged.
• All vehicles used by emergency services like fire brigade, ambulance, police, etc.
• Vehicles carrying children in school uniform.
• Vehicles of the transport corporation.
• Vehicles of foreign ambassadors, dignitaries and consulate.
• Vehicles of certain office bearers like the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, etc.

The monitoring

Retired defence personnel and volunteers have been roped in to effectively enforce this formula in the national capital. As many as 5,000 in number, these volunteers are helping the traffic officials ensure the rule is being followed. For better monitoring, the national capital has been divided into 11 zones, with 10 sectors each.

The Delhi government has also released an App 'PoochhO Carpool'. This app was developed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) and can be downloaded from Google Play by Mobile Android users for sharing of cars among passengers on the same route.

Issues and controversies

• In the first phase of the scheme, the pollution level had not improved as significantly as was expected.
• There had also been allegations that the government had introduced the scheme to benefit the autorickshaw drivers, among the key supporters and 'vote bank' of the ruling party. 
• There had been reports of CNG stickers being illegally sold to non-CNG vehicles, defeating the whole purpose of the scheme.
• For vehicles coming to the capital from the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, understanding the rule had led to confusion.

What do we need?

Despite its mild success, the odd-even scheme cannot be made a permanent solution to Delhi's traffic and pollution woes. Data show that congestion on Delhi roads reduced significantly when the formula was implemented for the first time. However, jury is still out on whether the pollution levels came down as was expected. The Delhi government has also been criticised for using a central legislation to enforce the policy. The objective of the Act under which the policy is introduced is not to control pollution but to regulate motor vehicles, the opponents say.

The sustainable solution

The long-term formula to curb pollution and reduce congestion on roads is to develop and promote public transport better. Rather than forcing a formula on people, it might be much better to let them voluntarily opt for public transport.