Commuters board Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses in New Delhi on January 15, 2016. (AFP photo)
As experts debate the Odd-Even scheme's impact on Delhi's air pollution, at least on the ground
decongested roads have left many pleasantly surprised.
On road with an ambulance from Fortis Hospitals, the NDTV team was told that a 10-kilometre stretch that earlier took 35 minutes took 18 minutes now.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, who has been driving an ambulance for the last four years on the roads of the national capital, attributes these 17 minutes saved to
decongested roads to the Odd-Even scheme.
"There are
fewer cars on the road now which results in more space so cars give us way," said Mr Singh.
According to a report by the Central Road Research of India, traffic congestion in Delhi has reduced by 35 per cent while people have saved on an average 15 minutes in travelling time during the exercise.
For many residents as well, the Odd-Even scheme has been a revelation.
A 29-year-old entrepreneur from West Delhi, Himanshu Khanna, who owns an odd-numbered car has used a mix of Metro and shared cabs to travel on days he can't drive his car.
"If my meeting is in Gurgaon then I've taken a shared cab. It's faster and cheaper. If the meeting is in Noida I would prefer taking a metro because it's faster and more convenient. People think the Metro is crowded but that's not really been the case," said Mr Khanna.
Over the last fortnight, Sachin Kapoor, a resident of South Delhi who owns two odd-numbered cars, has carpooled with his neighbour, Sanjiv Gupta who had the same problem with his two even-numbered cars.
"We do spend a lot of money on doctors and medicines so if we are able to do a little bit, it will really help us not just from the perspective of our well-being but economically as well," Mr Kapoor said.