Photos: With 233 fines and less chaos, odd-even rule starts smoothly in Delhi

On Monday, the third edition of the odd-even road space rationing drive saw fewer prosecutions compared to the first day of the previous arrangement in April, 2016. As part of the scheme, odd-numbered private cars will ply on odd dates and those with even number plates will ply on even days. The drive, which exempts two-wheelers and cars driven by women or carrying only women passengers and vehicles carrying school children, will continue till November 15, barring Sundays.

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Volunteers from Civil Defence wearing anti pollution masks seen with placards at Laxmi Nagar crossing, in New Delhi. The third edition of the odd-even road space rationing drive saw fewer prosecutions on Monday compared to the first day of the previous arrangement in April, 2016. The Delhi government said since it was the first day of the drive, officials were asked to go soft on violators and instead make them understand about the rule. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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The usually busy ITO saw little relief in commuter traffic on the first day of the odd-even traffic regulation scheme. On Monday, the first day of odd-even 3.0, enforcement agencies issued 271 challans till 8 pm. On the first day of odd-even 2.0, held from April 15-30, 2016, as many as 1,311 challans were issued, which was only 138 on January 1, 2016 – the opening day of odd-even 1.0. (Mohd Zakir / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia arrives on a bicycle at Delhi Secretariat. “Comparing to the previous days, Delhi’s air quality improved significantly today. We know that there are many factors determining the increase and decrease in pollution. Undoubtedly, the odd-even scheme also is a factor for this improvement,” the deputy chief minister said. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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Delhi Traffic Police personnel guide odd numbered vehicle commuters on the first day of the implementation of the odd even scheme at Vasant Vihar. As part of the scheme, odd-numbered private cars will ply on odd dates and those with even number plates will ply on even days. The drive, which exempts two-wheelers and cars driven by women or carrying only women passengers and vehicles carrying school children, will continue till November 15, barring Sundays. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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People with their faces covered amid smog at Vikas Marg. People, however, stood divided about the benefits of the drive. A number of people supported the odd-even rule calling it “an emergency measure in the apocalyptic air of Delhi”. Some others said that it would have little impact as the kilometers run by a vehicle or a cab would have increased manifold in the absence of half of Delhi’s private cars. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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To encourage carpooling during the drive, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal gave up his odd-numbered official vehicle to reach Delhi Secretariat in state urban development minister Satyendar Jain’s car – which ends with an even number. Labour minister Gopal Rai also joined them. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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Sumit Sharma, associate director (Earth Science and Climate Change Division) at The Energy and Resources India (Teri) said he expects data from the latest edition would not show any significant improvement. His institute, along with scientists from IITs in Delhi and Kanpur, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM-Pune), and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had earlier concluded that pollution had reduced by just 2-3% after the first such scheme. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST

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BJP MP Vijay Goel drove an odd-numbered SUV from his residence on Ashoka road to Janpath where he was stopped by traffic police. The penalty on violation of odd-even rule is Rs 4,000. The fine was Rs 2,000 in earlier two editions of the road rationing scheme in 2016. Goel also violated the second edition of odd-even rule in April 2016. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

UPDATED ON NOV 05, 2019 01:59 PM IST