New Delhi, Dec 24 (Agencies): The odd-even scheme aimed at reducing air pollution by keeping cars off the capital's roads will spare cars using natural gas, two-wheelers, women drivers accompanied by children, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Thursday.

Also exempted: VIPs listed by Kejriwal (who promised to car-pool with colleagues). To monitor compliance, Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government would be roping in volunteers of the National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

”About 10,000 NCC and NSS volunteers would be pressed into service... they will offer roses to violators so that there is a mindset change,” Kejriwal said.

The violators would also be levied a penalty of Rs 2,000 per offence by the traffic police, Kejriwal said.

Delhi's air quality, among the worst in cities around the world, is expected to improve as at least a million cars would be forced off the roads each day. There are nearly two million private cars registered in Delhi alone.

Check Delhi's pollution in real time here:  http://aqi.indiaspend.org/aq/breathe/

Kejriwal said the scheme has received all the necessary approvals and a notification for its implementation would be issued next Monday.

Come January 1, from 8am to 8pm on all days except Sunday, vehicles with number plates ending in an odd digit would be allowed to ply only on odd calendar dates. Similarly, vehicles with numbers ending in even dates would be allowed to ply on even dates of the calendar.

The VIPs listed include the President of India, the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Union Ministers, Governors and Chief Ministers of states and Union territories, except those of Delhi itself.

Vehicles bearing defence ministry number plates (which follow a unique system) and those of persons enjoying the Special Protection Group's cover would not be covered by the rules.

Emergency and enforcement vehicles such as ambulances, fire brigade, police vehicles, transport department vehicles would be out of its ambit as well.

The chief minister, addressing a press conference at his residence, said Delhi Metro services would run at its peak frequency during the period the regulations would be in force.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urged the Chief Justice of India, who had earlier backed the proposals and whose vehicle will be out of the odd-even ambit, to try carpool to work “to send out a strong message”.

Kejriwal said if large-scale violation is reported, the government would have no option but to “discontinue the scheme” and stressed on the need for a “cultural change”.

”Such schemes are enforced only during peak pollution periods across the world. Nowhere is it in force through the year.