Delhi Implements Odd-Even Rule from Nov 13-20, Schools Remain Closed Except for Classes 10 and 12

The odd-even rule in Delhi will be implemented again after Diwali, and school closures have been extended up to Class 11 due to the increasing pollution levels, according to State Environment Minister Gopal Rai. The closure of all schools except Classes 10 and 12 will be in effect until November 10. Currently, only classes up to Class 5 are suspended due to the deteriorating air quality.

Delhi has been engulfed in a thick haze of toxic smog for almost a week now, leading authorities to ban the entry of diesel trucks and halt construction activities in the city under Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

State Environment Minister Gopal Rai further announced that the ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles will continue. The government has also taken other measures, including prohibiting the use of firecrackers and installing smog guns to combat the severe pollution.

The odd-even rule, which has been a key strategy of the Arvind Kejriwal government in tackling pollution for the past few years, will be implemented for a week starting from November 13, the day after Diwali. This rule allows vehicles with registration numbers ending in an odd digit to be on the roads on odd-numbered days, while those with even digits can be on the roads on even-numbered days.

The extension of the odd-even rule beyond November 20 will be reviewed later, according to the minister.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and neighboring cities is currently around 500, which is equivalent to smoking 25-30 cigarettes a day.