The odd-even rule was enforced in Delhi for the second time to reduce vehicular pollution, but if the claims of the Karol Bagh Car Dealer Association are true, the impact of the rule may soon be nullified, with more and more people opting to buy a second car with an alternate number plate rather than use public transport or share vehicles for the duration of the rule.
“People prefer to use a vehicle with an alternate number plate than get stuck because of the scheme.” Said Khushwant Singh, General Secretary of the Karol Bagh Car Dealer Association. “Families with children especially are left with little choice. They have to drop and pick up their children from school, and the rule makes that so difficult… They have to buy another vehicle because carpooling or public transport would be quite difficult.”
Dealers along Abdul Aziz Road in Karol Bagh said there are a fair number of people opting for used cars, with sales having increased by 25-30 per cent. The demand for models costing between Rs 2 and 4 lakh are particularly high. Cars running on CNG are also in greater demand than diesel ones.
“Cars like Maruti’s Swift and Dzire are the ones people choose to buy,” said Ramit Wadhi of Car Town in Karol Bagh. “They don’t want to spend too much if they’re buying because of the scheme, so the sale of the more expensive cars is not increasing,” he added.
“I am looking for an alternate car only because of this scheme.” said Sudhir, a Delhi resident.
However, several dealers claim that while enquiries for vehicles have increased since odd-even, sales have not seen a simultaneous rise. Some even said the rule had affected business adversely. Gurjot Singh of Mahindra Motors said, “Our problems have actually increased… Even if a person likes a vehicle, he doesn’t purchase it because the number plate doesn’t match his requirement. This creates issues for us.”