Saying that the scheme cleared the city's otherwise congested roads, and brought society members together, Kejriwal thanked the Supreme Court judges and the Delhi high court for pooling cars to follow the odd-even scheme.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that the odd-even car formula to curb pollution in the capital was a success, urging Delhi residents to continue with it voluntarily from Saturday. The odd even plan, which was implemented for a trial period of a fortnight to bring down the soaring winter pollution in the capital, ended on Friday.
Thanking Delhi residents, the city traffic police, civil defence volunteers, the media and Delhi government departments and the judiciary profusely, an overwhelmed Kejriwal said people followed the rule voluntarily and not out of fear of paying the Rs2,000 fine, which they would anyway spend on a day out in movies.
Saying that the scheme cleared the city's otherwise congested roads, and brought society members together, Kejriwal thanked the Supreme Court judges and the Delhi high court for pooling cars to follow the odd-even scheme.
"Pollution did go down, but there was also less traffic congestion. If you spent four hours on the roads, you could now do the same distance in two hours. The irritation of getting stuck in the traffic has gone. There is a sense of peace in Delhi," said the chief minister, adding that Delhi has proved it can match Singapore in discipline and systems.
"People shared stories with me as to how they got used to good habits like metro and carpooling with others. I appeal them to continue with those habits," he said.
The AAP government has said it may adopt the scheme on a more permanent basis after analysis and a meeting of different departments on Monday.
Delhi's transport minster Gopal Rai claimed pollution had dropped by 20 to 25% in the trial period in the capital.
Rai said that there has been a reduction in the level of peak pollution, a cut in the average volume of PM 2.5 and the high quantity of pollutants in Delhi's border areas.
However, data from Central Pollution Control Board read the air quality in the polluted localities of the city such as Anand Vihar, RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh was still poor on Friday.
The city's polluted air claims up to 30,000 lives each year, according to the Centre for Science and Environment.
The Delhi government has also organised a celebration for all stakeholders for participating in the odd even exercise.
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