The much talked about odd-even rule began at 8 am on Friday morning in Delhi and the National Capital Region. Hindustan Times reported that the first offenders were fined at Delhi’s ITO area. The rule, which will be enforced for 15 days, allows cars with even and odd numbered license plates to ply only on alternate days, except Sundays. On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the public to follow the rule, and said that the whole country would be watching the capital. Later on Friday morning, Kejriwal said the capital was abiding by the new rule, and that people were whole-heartedly accepting the drive.

State tourism minister Kapil Mishra (pictured above) took his bike to the Secretariat on Friday morning, while Kejriwal car pooled with two ministers and staff. Bikers are exempt from the rule, along with women, people with medical emergencies, vehicles run on CNG, and a list of other VIPs. The government has arranged for special buses between Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida for the public, as well as 3,000 extra public buses within the city. The metro will also make around 350 additional trips every day. Violators of the odd-even rule will be fined Rs 2,000.

The rule has made headlines for weeks now and come under criticism for being impractical from opposition as well as the city's police personnel. The Aam Aadmi Party also alleged that a protest by bureaucrats on Thursday, after two officials were suspended by the party, was a conspiracy to create problems for the odd-even rule.