Cars alternating days in the world's most polluted city
New Delhi is the world’s most polluted city.
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The authorities in the Indian capital have launched an ambitious plan to stop the city from choking.
Pollution à New Delhi: colère et inquiétude dans la capitale indienne https://t.co/3WGK5bAmWU #AFP pic.twitter.com/9T0pW9nvr6
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) 20 Décembre 2015
Circulation alternée à New Delhi pour juguler la pollution https://t.co/o7DUhYOUlR #Monde pic.twitter.com/rF9PQQOcyS
— Tribune de Genève (@tdgch) 1 Janvier 2016
From the 1st of January 2016, private cars can only be used on alternate days according to their number plates.
The scheme will run on a trial basis for a fortnight.
Pollution à New Delhi: colère et inquiétude dans la capitale indienne https://t.co/V5XZCP5crk pic.twitter.com/BjdEVNUfeO
— 20 Minutes (@20Minutes) 20 Décembre 2015
Commuters are sceptical but hopeful. “We just hope that people will follow the rules and if the numbers of cars on Delhi’s roads gets halved and people go for measures like pooling cars or public transport, it should definitely make a difference.” one motorist told reporters.
Related measures
There is also a crackdown on overloaded lorries, illegally parked vehicles and those visibly polluting the atmosphere.
Services on the bus and metro network will be increased to compensate.
India has 13 of the 20 most-polluted cities in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. Poor air quality causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.