Today is the 4th day to the odd-even car trial in Delhi. First three days being the New Year weekend, along with a Sunday (the day which is exempted from this rule), Delhi did not have to think of the dilemma.

But Monday presented a challenge with all offices and colleges functioning and people back to their daily routines after a fun weekend. The “real test” for the odd-even plan dawned to a overcast sky..

Since the last six months, I have been travelling every day to my office in Noida from my Vasant Kunj home by metro. I have experienced heavy crowd in metro and metro stations. I am now resigned to long queues, people pushing in and out of the metro and rushing to occupy an empty seat.

Today was no different. My parents advised me to leave early as newspapers were filled with Delhi traffic police getting ready for the “big day”. So were the DTC and Delhi Metro. These mass transport operators prepared for extra load of passengers.

As I reached Hauz Khas metro station for the regular 9.15 am service, the number of people was not alarmingly. The queue for security check and entry seemed as long as always, nothing much to scare me off.

There was a fight at the token booth among two men that attracted a big crowd. But the CISF jawans at the station immediately took charge and dispersed the crowd.

Apart from that, my whole metro ride from Hauz Khas to Noida Sector-16 metro station went like every day routine. The number of commuters in the ladies compartment of the metro and Rajiv Chowk metro station (popular for being the most crowded station) was like as I see every day. I reached my office on time at 10.15am.

In my experience with my family and friends, I saw personal preference of using cars as priority over a pollution free city. Being a trial for 15 days, they have chosen alternate solutions in order to comply with the scheme. My brother-in-law having an odd-numbered car has decided to work from home on all even numbered dates till January 15. And two of my friends who have never travelled in public transport, extended their New Year vacation abroad to January-mid, for “convenience sake”.