What the odd-even Formula Achieved

• Peak pollution controlled despite fog and adverse weather
   
• Load of particulates and nitrous oxides from cars reduced by about 40%
   
• Areas with higher car density recorded more improvement in air quality
   
• Decongestion of roads, leading to better utilisation of vehicles and reduced travel time

OTHER POSSIBLE TEMPORARY MEASURES

• Extending odd-even rule to two-wheelers
   
• Shutting power plants and industries
   
• Declaring school holidays

LASTING MEASURES THAT DELHI NEEDS

• Congestion charges on the basis of time and location of travel
   
• Tax benefits for CNG and electric vehicles
   
• Phase out old vehicles
   
• Timely completion of phase-III of Delhi Metro
   
• Remove entry taxes for cabs, autos and buses within NCR cities
   
• Rationalise taxes on buses
   
• Substantially hike car parking charges
   
• Expand bus fleet to 11,000 from around 6,000 at present
   
• Build dedicated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians
   
• Implement Bharat-VI emission norm by 2020
   
• Islanding of Delhi by diverting trucks and commercial vehicles

JOBS UNDER THREAT

• Personal drivers: Taking a car out on alternate days could mean fewer people hiring personal drivers
   
• Parking attendants: Fewer cars and dwindling parking revenue could mean a cut on parking attendants

HOW POLLUTION CHANGED CITIES: A LESSON FROM HISTORY

• 13th century: Attempts to ban sea coal burning in London failed
   
• 17th century: Smoke from coal burning corrodes London buildings
   
• Late 19th century: Community campaigns against smoke start across UK and the US
   
• Early 20th century: Winter smog kills many in industrial cities of Manchester, Chicago, Pittsburgh and others in the UK and the US, leading to public outcry
   
• 1920: Air pollution ordinances in 175 US cities
   
• 1940: Los Angeles with a million cars suffers massive smog and health impacts
   
• 1948: Hundreds take ill and thousand impacted by smog in Donora, Pennsylvania
   
• 1952: December smog kills more than 4,000 people in London
   
• 1956: UK Clean Air Act passed
   
• 1970: First comprehensive Clean Air Act in the US passed

Source: Business Standard