They said that Delhi’s Odd-Even formula wouldn’t work; that implementation would be impossible and people would find ways to circumvent it. They said it would make no difference because cars cause only 10% of the pollution and it is trucks, the worst offenders that really need to be targeted but have been left outside the purview of the regulation.
All this may have come true, but the nay-sayers and skeptics have been forced to accept that at least a little good has come from this initiative. Today, on the 1st day of the Odd-Even formula to coming to end we are looking back to some of the observable changes for the better. Though the pollution levels didn’t actually come down as drastically as the government promised it would, traffic congestion was clearly down and there was a certain sense of achievement at having worked collectively towards a goal for the common good.
How Delhi roads are different post #delhioddevenlogic
Driving in Delhi had been easier and less stressful. There appeared to be fewer cars on the roads and commuting took less time. The preponderance of cars with the right number plate for the given day demonstrates that many people were willing to do their bit to make the movement a success. At the risk of sounding schmaltzy I would go so far as to say that we were looking at People Power actually working in Delhi. However, we need to focus on the reason for this initiative which wasn’t to remove road congestion. Traffic congestion is not dangerous to health, most of the time, so continuing this rule only to control traffic would be wrong.
How #delhioddevenlogic has made a difference to Pollution
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According to estimates, there were about 30% fewer cars on the roads during these past 15 days. While the initial reports said that pollution levels were not impacted at all, towards the end, reports appeared stating that pollution levels had fallen from ‘dangerous’ to ‘moderate’. Some estimates say vehicular pollution was down by 50%. A combination of fewer vehicles on the roads and strong winds blowing away particulate matter has improved air quality in the country’s capital quite significantly. Many on Twitter expressed their willingness to make this permanent when they tweeted with the hashtags #OddEvenMovement and #OddEvenBhaiBhai.
Gandhigiri at work
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There were policemen at the traffic signals flagging down cars and fining drivers for infringement of rules. But there were also volunteers engaging in some Gandhigiri; handing out roses to transgressors to gently remind them of what they have done wrong. The Chief Minister was speaking to the people on radio and via a unique faceless TV address that featured only the characteristic cap and muffler; urging people to do the right thing.
Most important observation however is that people have begun to think in terms of the greater good; eschewing personal inconveniences to find ways to contribute to the implementation of a rather radical rule. To bring the focus back on the original problem though, how about doing something to actually lower the levels of pollution? Like actually stopping the trucks from entering Delhi?
