Around 23 lakh cars ply in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, every day.
The Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh has its eye on Arvind Kejriwal's 'odd-even' formula for cleaner air. The idea is to replicate it if the plan takes off successfully in neighbouring Delhi.
"It is important to take steps to clean up the air for coming generations in cities like Delhi or Lucknow," said the state's transport minister Yasir Shah today. "I think Delhi will take a firm step in this direction and if it happens, we will replicate it in Uttar Pradesh."
The minister, who has already started travelling in public bus, has appealed to the people to follow his example.
Around 23 lakh cars ply in the state capital Lucknow every day. On Wednesday, it turned India's most-polluted city, with a level of particulate matter that's 20 times the safe limit. The reading was over 490 micrograms compared to the 470 micrograms in Delhi.
Agra, one of India's biggest tourist draws, is also among the world's most polluted cities. So is Varanasi, one of the biggest pilgrim centres of the nation.
"Travelling in your own car does not enhance your prestige," the minister said. "Everyone travels in their own car. The one worthy of respect is the one who travels by public transport, since he is making a contribution to the society and environment."
The Delhi government is drafting an "odd-even" formula which is expected to cut down the number of vehicles on city roads to half, by allowing cars with odd and even number plates on alternate days. The system is expected to be tested for 15 days from January 1.
"We have decided to ahead with the plan despite some flaws... the alternative is to wait for years and let children and people suffer," Mr Kejriwal told reporters.
The final plan may make many more adjustments, he indicated, saying the home minister also raised some questions but "gave us a positive response".