The move to allow odd and even cars on alternate days had triggered a debate and had been challenged in a petition.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to block the Delhi government's proposal to allow vehicles with odd and even registration numbers on alternate days from Jan 1.
The Court said the petition filed against the plan was "premature". Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's government had announced the rule last week, along with other plans to curb crippling air pollution in the city.
The measures were announced after the High Court had pulled up the government for not having a concrete plan to tackle dangerous levels of air pollution in the city.
The move to allow odd and even cars on alternate days had triggered widespread debate and
had been challenged in a petition.
The petition filed by Shweta Kapoor, a lawyer, had said the government has "failed to check the main cause of concern of pollution in Delhi and is targeting mercilessly and arbitrarily the helpless citizens of this city."
Yesterday the Delhi government had said that odd-even rule will be
enforced between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday to Saturday. Several types of vehicles including ambulances will be exempt from the rule.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said odd-numbered cars would be allowed on odd dates, like January 1, 3 and 5, and even-numbered cars on even dates.
"We will assess the system on January 15 and then further action will be taken," Mr Rai said.
The minister said
no decision has been taken on whether to leave women and disabled out of the ban. It is also not yet clear
whether two-wheelers will be part of the formula.
The odd-even formula has been described by Mr Kejriwal as a necessity to reduce the number of cars on the roads of Delhi, which is battling severe levels of air pollution.