Two-wheelers exempt from odd-even scheme in Delhi

The Supreme Court has exempted two-wheelers from the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) odd-even scheme that was instituted to cut down on vehicular emissions in Delhi, as per a report by PTI.

The apex court announced its decision on Monday after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkarni said that it would be impossible for the Delhi public transport system to accommodate the number of people who rely on two-wheelers for transport. Representing the Delhi government, he claimed that there were around 68 lakh two-wheelers that ply on Delhi’s roads.

In December 2017, the NGT had dismissed the Delhi government’s review plea asking for an exemption for two-wheelers but the tribunal had dismissed it saying that it would defeat the purpose of improving Delhi's ambient air quality.

The odd-even scheme had been introduced in 2015 and is meant to come into effect automatically whenever particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 hits 500 micrograms per cubic metre and 300 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively in 48 hours.