Private vehicles in Delhi with odd, even number plates to ply on alternate days: Reports

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Friday said that they have decided to issue a directive instructing the owners of the private vehicles with odd and even number plates to ply on alternate days, not same.

The directive will be effective from 1 January, 2016.

The Delhi government took the decision at an emergency meeting on Friday, called by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The decision has been taken in the wake of increasing concerns over the deteriorating environmental conditions in the national capital. 

The emergency meeting was called after the Delhi High Court on Thursday rapped the Central and AAP government for not having "comprehensive action" plans to combat pollution the city.

The court observed that living in Delhi is "akin to living in a gas chamber" and added, "There must be action plan along with timeline and responsibilities of each authority," IANS reported.

The HC will hear the matter again on 21 December.

Odd no. private vehicles to ply on one day, even no. vehicles on the next. Decision taken in view of rising air pollution in Delhi.

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 4, 2015

Meanwhile, the AAP government is working simultaneously on a long-term solution to combat increasing pollution in Delhi. The Delhi government has partnered with the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools to fund a startup that will provide the best idea to improve air and water quality in the national capital.

The intiative, Innovation Challenge, invites "organisations, agencies, students, and researchers across India with promising programmes or interventions that address energy and environmental challenges in Delhi".