Delhi keeps its odd-even promise. Twitter, Kejriwal overwhelmed

Delhiwalas have been hailed by all and sundry as the first day of the #OddEvenPlan went off without a hiccup, much to our collective disbelief. New year's day saw mostly odd-numbered cars ply on the much-relieved roads of the national capital, with only a few private vehicles with even number plates making their presence felt.

The most-polluted city in the world got cheers from other than CM Arvind Kejriwal, when in the evening, he tweeted the famous words from John Lennon's Imagine.

John Lennon "You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only 1 I hope some day you'll join us And the world will be as one" #IamWithOddEven

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 1, 2016

'GandhiGiri' with 'even' on day of 'odd'. Civil Defence Volunteers offering roses to defaulters of #OddEvenFormula. pic.twitter.com/JgQkmvrgxi

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 1, 2016

The euphoria of Delhiites and the slightly more breathable air was received by citizens and journalists with tremendous excitement. Many cited the concerted and collective efforts by Delhi men, women, children and volunteers, policemen as well as the ministers and bureaucrats themselves as "historic" and "unprecedented".

That a government-imposed rule would be embraced with such enthusiasm and positivity by the people of Delhi took many by surprise, but then, others found echoes of the landslide Assembly elections all over again. Reports suggested that only 10 per cent of the cars were actually even numbered, and most had valid reasons for exemption.

First day of the year belongs to Kejriwal. Modi may have parajumped in Pakistan, but all odds evened out in AAP's favour today.

— deep halder (@daipayanhalder) January 1, 2016

Quite cool. Most cars on the roads seem to be following the #OddEvenPlan Well done Delhi. Well begun is half done. pic.twitter.com/OaXfiXJDpN

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) January 1, 2016

Kudos to Delhiwalas for sticking to #OddEvenPlan I Hope it will sustain effectively in the days to come. Congratulations @ArvindKejriwal:

— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) January 1, 2016

In Delhi today, no place for: 1. Even No. cars. 2. Politics over #EvenOddPlan. 3. Cynicism. 4. Overreactions. | Pollution involves us all.

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) January 1, 2016

First day first show gets off to decent start on @ArvindKejriwal #OddEvenFormula. Come on folks let's breathe again in saddi dilli in 2016

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 1, 2016

Love the sense of disbelief among folks who cannot believe odd-even is actually working. Remain positive folks. Keep the politics away.

— Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) January 1, 2016

And Ad Chini now -3:16 pm. Minimum traffic. Maximum mobility. pic.twitter.com/751P2wf6wj

— Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) January 1, 2016

First day, first show: looks like @ArvindKejriwal odd even scheme could be a winner! Key test on Monday the 4th!

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 1, 2016

Bravo Dilli! Half the number of cars, spotted 6-7 violators, but most Delhi-ites complying. Will it last until Monday though?

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) January 1, 2016

A top Babu in Guj who worked closely with Modi says Modi told some bureaucrats why we could not come up with something like #OddEvenPlan

— Mahesh Langa (@LangaMahesh) January 1, 2016

Never heard #AAP/ @ArvindKejriwal ask people not to have cars!! only to use them sensibly/pool, no? #OddEvenPlan https://t.co/VCzCkJ59xG

— Samir Saran (@samirsaran) January 1, 2016

However, there were some who sounded cautionary notes and said that the real test of the #OddEvenPlan would only happen on Monday, when the schools and offices in the capital reopen after the new year weekend. In addition, there were the customary terse reactions from "bhakts", who disavowed the whole plan as yet another gimmick by Kejriwal.

AK's masterstrke! #OddEvenPlan to b discontinued aftr 15th Jan. He got his publicity, a 100cr scam, AND 10 new cars for his ministers! Waah!

— Vande Mataram (@UnSubtleDesi) January 1, 2016

To those going gaga over Delhiites overwhelmingly endorsing #OddEvenPlan, remove the Rs2000-fine and I will believe you. It's govt's success

— Kamlesh Singh (@kamleshksingh) January 1, 2016

I dont think facts matter to Media cheer girls, But #OddEvenPlan is a haphazard knee jerk plan that won't work. pic.twitter.com/zQ9edoCPNr

— Vande Mataram (@UnSubtleDesi) January 1, 2016

Sir @ArvindKejriwal,#OddEvenPlan is working! Here r my lungs on Dec 31 night & on Jan 1st around 12 pm. It Is True ! pic.twitter.com/IVRZNxC1HR

— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) January 1, 2016

#OddEvenPlan is going to hit the three service chiefs pretty hard. Their cars are numbered Army 1, IAF 1 and IN 1. Cannot even car pool ????

— Man Aman Chhina (@manaman_chhina) January 1, 2016

However, on the whole, January 1, 2016 started and ended on a high. The air was palpably cleaner at the end of it, even though the lungs would need a few more months to start resembling their healthier counterparts in relatively less polluted regions of the world.

#BJP MP #SatyapalSingh was caught by @DelhiTrafficPol Police for violating #OddEvenFormula. Photo: @choudharyview pic.twitter.com/Le5whJ3u5n

— ThePriteshRathod (@prathod2008) January 1, 2016

The 2nd real test for #OddEvenPlan to succeed will b when d school holidayseason ends.It's then when all Delhites r truly back using roads..

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) January 1, 2016