'Odd-even' formula set to return to Delhi

The 'odd-even' scheme is "all set" make a comeback in the national capital, the dates to which will be announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that the government will make the announcement after reviewing over 11 lakh responses received from the public through multiple channels.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia suggested that the licence plate policy will be back "once again" while sources said that its next phase could be enforced in April after the CBSE Board examinations.

"The scheme is all set to make a comeback. Ministers, including the chief minister, will announce the dates in a press conference on Thursday," sources said.

Earlier, Rai tweeted, "Delhi government will take a decision on the future of odd-even tomorrow. The public feedback report is being prepared today."

The road rationing experiment, aimed at curbing air pollution in the metropolis, was implemented from January 1-15 in its first phase with Sundays being exempted from it.

Subsequently, the government invited public opinion through emails, missed calls, online forms and also reached out to around 9 lakh people through interactive voice response system.

"Around 28,300 suggestions have been received through online forms while another 9,000 and 1,82,808 have come through emails and missed called respectively. The government, on its part, has made more than 9 lakh calls to gather public opinion," a senior government official said.

AAP MLAs, who organised Jan Sabhas on the same theme, have claimed that public opinion was "overwhelmingly" in favour of re-introduction of the scheme.