The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought to know whether the odd-even policy for traffic management, experimented with in Delhi, will work in Mumbai if implemented.
Under this policy introduced on a pilot basis for 15 days by the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in New Delhi, where pollution had reached alarming heights, citizens were urged to use private vehicles with odd/even numbers on odd/even days.
Taking note of an “equally bad” situation in Mumbai, a division bench of Justices VM Kanade and RevatiMohite-Dere asked if the policy was a success in Delhi and if pollution had reduced.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions, some seeking the policy to be adopted in Mumbai as well, while others recommended a committee to be constituted to look into traffic violations to curb air pollution or even study reasons for the rise in air pollution.
The court was informed that reports suggested both success and failure of the odd-even policy. An intervener in the matter cited the policy implemented in other cities such as Paris and Beijing that have recorded a drop in air pollution levels.
The advocates mentioned several orders passed by the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court on steps to check air pollution. The court then asked for a compilation of all the orders to be submitted. The next hearing is on February 9.
