We all studied odd and even numbers when unimaginably young. Years passed, primary school gave way to middle and senior school to life beyond. Happily, those of us who dread mathematics, thought the concept of odd and even numbers had gone out of their life. Turns out we had reckoned without Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi CM came up with an innovative if challenging concept of allowing cars with even registration number on even dates on the road and odd ones the next. In school we might have ducked the question. Now here as adults on the roads of the Capital life gets even and there is no shying away from the registration number of your car, odd or even! Indeed, what a comeback!

Everyone is talking about it. The polarities could not have been more conspicuous. Those in favour talk in terms of a little sacrifice to make the city cleaner. Those opposed point out that instead of allowing only certain cars on a given day, the government should not allow one family to possess more than one car. Then there are others who say, rightfully, that they pay the tax for the entire year. So, if they are not allowed to drive their car every day, should they pay the same amount?

Of course, away from the din of this unending debate, there are honest souls who believe that Delhi’s environment needs to be cleaner, and urgently so.

People deserve better than noxious fumes at intersections. So power plants needs to be regulated, if not shut altogether. Factories bellowing out smoke need to be brought to book. And cars not adhering to pollution norms need to be taken off the roads. Amidst all this, the public transport, though easily the best in the country, needs to get better for the common man to happily leave his car in the garage.

Will the initiative succeed in helping Delhiities breathe in fresh air? Well, the odds are even.