New Delhi cuts traffic but smog lingers
Print Edition
NEW Delhi yesterday wrapped up a trial of strict driving restrictions that has taken around a million cars off the roads and seen even judges and diplomats carpool, but made little obvious difference to air quality in the world’s most polluted capital.
Air quality levels remained “unhealthy” yesterday, the final day of the two-week experiment in allowing private cars on the roads only on alternate days.
Delhi commuters were nonetheless positive about the scheme, which the government may adopt on a more permanent basis, although mostly because it freed up traffic on the city’s usually clogged roads.
“The traffic situation in Delhi has really improved. Earlier, it used to take me nearly one hour to commute to work and back, but now the time has cut to half,” said Rohit Srivastava, a 32-year-old who had been carpooling and taking the metro every second day.
In a city where road rules are routinely flouted, most drivers appeared to be obeying the restrictions and many said they viewed the scheme positively.
More than 9,000 violators were, however, dealt fines of 2,000 rupees (US$30), a large sum for most Delhiites.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the city of some 17 million for complying with the strict rules, saying it was “a matter of our lives and our city.”
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