Beijing goes the Delhi way; effects `odd-even` to fight heavy smog

New Delhi: In order to deal with the increasing heavy smog which has engulfed the city of Beijing, authorities have decided to go the Delhi way and implement the ''odd-even'' scheme from Friday night to curb the smog.

Bracing for heavy smog, authorities have also decided to suspend schools after the capital city of China issued its first red alert for pollution this year.

Approved by the municipal government, the red alert is being activated from 8 PM on Friday and is expected to be lifted on December 21 when the air quality in the city improves.

According to the transportation administration commission, the "odd-even" car restriction system determined by the final digit of a vehicle's license plate is being implemented from Friday night while additional public transportation will be arranged with more buses running for longer.

The commission expects five lakh more trips through metro and other public transportation for the duration of the red alert.

All 44 road construction and maintenance sites have been ordered to halt work, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Older and high-polluting vehicles are strictly banned as more enforcement forces from environmental protection, transportation and urban management authorities have been dispatched to the streets for inspection.

The city's education department also ordered all kindergartens, primary schools and private training centres to suspend classes during the red alert, and gave middle schools flexibility to cancel classes if they consider it necessary.

(With PTI inputs)