The odd-even road rationing scheme, an anti-pollution measure, kicked in from 8 am on Monday in the city, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urging people to follow it for the sake of their family and kids.

Under the scheme, apart from the exempt categories, vehicles with number plates ending with a even digit will ply on even days, while those ending with odd digit will ply on odd days.

The overall air quality index of the city at 7:30 am stood at 439, which falls in the 'severe' category. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.

'Namaste Delhi, odd-even is starting from today to reduce pollution. Please do follow it for yourself, your family, kids and your breath. Share cars. It will strengthen friendship, form relations, save petrol and pollution,' Kejriwal said in an early morning tweet in Hindi.

Violations of the odd-even rule will invite a fine of Rs 4,000. Over 600 teams of Delhi Traffic police and the transport and revenue departments have been deployed for a strict implementation of the scheme across the city.

The scheme will be implemented from 8 am to 8 pm till November 15.

Two-wheelers and electric vehicles have been exempted from the restrictions, but not CNG-driven vehicles.

Women-only vehicles with children aged up to 12 years and vehicles occupied by physically-disabled persons will also be exempted.

Twenty-nine categories of vehicles, including those of the President, Prime Minister, emergency and enforcement vehicles, have been exempted.

However, vehicles of the Delhi chief minister and his cabinet ministers are not exempt.