ENVIRONMENT// Delhi had implemented a unique plan to allow plying only even number on even number days and odd numbered cars on the other days. The plan was introduced with the aim of reducing air pollution in the national capital which is the most polluted city in the world. Has the plan worked? Data is not clear. In the first week of January, the levels of PM 2.5 were generally over 300. The safe level is 60. In the past few days, the same had dropped to below 100 and even below 60 at certain points in time in certain areas of the city.

Weather may have played a role to keep the levels of pollution high even though so many vehicles were off the road. But some experts have pointed out that peak (highest) pollution levels are not as high as they were in December. Traffic problems in Delhi, however, nearly disappeared, with fewer traffic jams occurring in those few days. The people of Delhi mostly followed the odd even rule which was unexpected.