More than 500 people were fined till 1 pm on Friday by the Delhi Traffic Police for violating the city's odd-even number plate rule. The highest number of fines were reported from south Delhi, followed by the western parts of the city, reported PTI. The Delhi government rolled out phase two of the odd-even rule on Friday, which will be implemented from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, till April 30.

For the second phase, the Aam Aadmi Party government said it has increased the number of people enforcing the rule. Around 5,000 defence volunteers, 2,000 traffic police personnel and 400 ex-servicemen were deployed to help implement the rule. The government has also formed 120 teams comprising officials from the enforcement wing of the traffic department to pull up those violating the rule, The Indian Express reported.

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Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit criticised the Arvind Kejriwal-led government on Friday and said he was heavily publicising a scheme that had no real benefit for the public. “They should have gone ahead with the programme only if they honestly thought it was a success. They should also ensure adequate transportation to people, which is not there right now,” she told ANI. Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Vijender Gupta also said the scheme was not a permanent solution for the capital.

After the first phase of the rule was implemented in Delhi in January, reports found that pollution had levels had dropped only marginally before seeing a huge rise again, despite the AAP government calling the scheme a success. The odd-even rule allows cars with odd-numbered license plates and even-numbered ones to ply on alternate days. Those exempt include two-wheelers, single women drivers, vehicles with children in school uniform, and CNG vehicles. The fine for violating the rule is Rs 2,000.