‘Odd-even’ for 5 days in Delhi from Monday

Women, mobikes exempt

As Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick layer of smog for the third successive day, the Delhi government on Thursday announced the rollout of the odd-even car rationing scheme for five days from November 13 as part of a graded response plan (GRAP) to tackle toxic air.

The third chapter of the odd-even scheme will impose curbs on vehicles between 8 am and 8 pm and exempt women drivers, two-wheelers and vehicles carrying children in school uniforms and VVIPs, said Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot.

Violation of the restrictions will invite a penalty of `2,000, he said, on a day when all schools remained shut due to bad air.

The minister said that CNG vehicles with valid stickers will be exempted from the cubrs. The 22 IGL gas stations across the city will start distributing CNG stickers from 2 pm on Friday.

“The CNG stickers which were issued in the last edition of odd-even

Violation of the restrictions will invite a penalty of `2,000, Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, on a day when all schools remained shut due to bad air

will also be valid,” the minister said.

He also announced plans to check overcharging by app-based cabs during the odd-even. “I have called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber on Friday to ensure that there is no surge pricing,” Mr Gahlot said.

On Thursday, the air quality index, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was recorded at 486 indicating “severe” levels of pollution, dangerously close to the 500-mark that reflects a pollution “emergency”.

The minister said the Delhi Transport Corporation has been directed to hire 500 buses from private contractors to tackle the rush of commuters during the odd-even week.