Days before the odd-even rule for cars comes into force in Delhi, police chief BS Bassi has this to say to citizen - don't lie about being sick.

"The notification clearly says checks regarding odd-even violations concerning medical emergency for the sick will be based on mutual trust. Thus I request all citizens to start 2016 with the truth and don't lie about being sick," Bassi said.

For the first 15 days of the New Year, odd-numbered cars will run on odd dates and even-numbered cars will run on even dates, barring exemptions granted to categories like VIPs, women, CNG vehicles, emergency vehicles and two wheelers. Many have questioned whether the long list of exemptions defeat the purpose of the drive, which is to drastically reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and this cut down air pollution in Delhi.

Bassi had also expressed his reservations in an interview to NDTV on Monday. "What if someone says he is sick? I cannot stop him because I have to believe him. There is a possibility that many persons who will be violating will be able to wiggle through because of the exemptions. I wish we had gone for a policy without any exemptions," he said.

Today, he was more cautious as he said: "We will do our job as per the notification." The police chief, who has never shared very friendly vibes with the AAP government, has warned against vigilantism by thousands of volunteers that AAP says will help the traffic police implement the odd-even plan.

Besides the traffic police, around 10,000 volunteers will be present at traffic lights to guide drivers, the Delhi government has said. "No matter how good the cause is, we can't let volunteers stop vehicles in running traffic. The law does not permit this and neither will we...No vigilantism will be tolerated," Bassi said on Monday.