The petition has raised a series of queries, which the notice wants the government to reply, and clarify some of the confusions people have about the scheme – under which cars with odd numbers will ply on Delhi roads only on odd dates, and those with even numbers only on even dates from January 1.

 

These queries are:

 

* Does the government have a ‘Plan B’? If so, then what’s their preparedness, whether their Plan B can handle the cause for which it is implemented?

 

* If there’s no Plan B, why should the government go ahead with implementing the odd/even formula?

 

* Is the government of the opinion that the ‘Plan A’ is defect-proof?

 

* The government is implementing a formula which will land lakhs of people into chaotic situation.  Why is this formula implemented from 8 am to 8 pm? The objective should be to curb the pollution level during the peak hours of traffic and not to harass the people. Why should there be a timing constraint? Will this 8 am – 8 pm rule reduce air pollution? Why has the government not undertaken a study or research to test the adequateness of this time-specific implementation of odd/even formula?

 

* Instead of implementing the formula from 8 am to 8 pm, why don’t we categorize the traffic into two categories: a.     heavy traffic timing: implementation of formula during the heavy traffic timings, i.e., 10 am to 1 pm and then 5pm to 9 pm, and b.     less traffic timing – relax the implementation of formula during the less traffic timings, i.e. 2 pm to 5 pm and then 9 pm till 10 am.

 

* Has the government tested its existing public transport infrastructure; whether it will suffice the needs of the population of the Delhi once the odd/even formula is implemented? At present the public transport system is not capable of handling people from all section of society.

 

* The government has not taken into consideration the NCR aspect. The pollution in Delhi is not only because of the traffic situation in the city but also due to the surrounding industrial towns which are emitting industrial pollutions. Then why is this odd/even formula implemented only in Delhi and not in the entire NCR?

 

* What is the basis for exemptions? Has the government taken into consideration the essential services while preparing this schedule? Why essential services vehicles like milk vans, vans carrying medicines, and vans carrying vegetables are not in the exempted list?