Kejriwal in Fortune's World's 50 Greatest Leaders

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Friday named by Fortune magazine as one of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders -- for his innovative odd-even traffic scheme to battle pollution.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader took the 42nd place in the list.

According to Fortune magazine, Kejriwal’s odd-even traffic plan made Delhi roads “less clogged, (and) hourly particulate air pollution concentrations dropped by 13 percent”(File Photo: IANS)

Responding to congratulatory messages, Kejriwal said: "They (have) included my name for odd-even, credit for which goes to people of Delhi who made it successful." 

According to Fortune magazine, when "Kejriwal unveiled a blueprint to tackle the smog in New Delhi - called the world’s most polluted city by the WHO - many were skeptical.

"A key component: an 'odd-even' pilot project in which vehicles were allowed on the roads only on alternate days. 

"The uplifting result of the pilot this January: Roads were less clogged, hourly particulate air pollution concentrations dropped by 13 percent and citizens could breathe deep," it said.

AAP media coordinator Deepak Bajpai told IANS: "(Kejriwal) is an exemplary leader. This rank had been given to Kejriwal on the basis of some concrete work. He is a person who delivers."

AAP leader Ashutosh added: "Leadership is not about talking but about doing. No wonder Arvind is among top global leaders and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is not."  - IANS