Delhi to go 'Car-Free' on January 22: CM Kejriwal

To make Delhi pollution-free, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal onSunday announced that ‘Car-Free Day’ will be organised across the national capital on January 22, saying that he will cycle to his office that day.

He also said that the government with the support of people will run campaign to encourage masses to use cycle or public transport to reach their offices on January 22.

The Delhi government on Sunday held the second ‘Car-Free Day’ in Dwarka -- on the road stretch between Sector 3-13 and Sector 7-9, which witnessed a cycle rally led by Kejriwal, and participation of school children, and IAS and DANICS officers.

The chief minister said, “If we reduce cars on the roads of Delhi, pollution level can come down significantly in the national capital.

“I am not saying that the entire Delhi will follow our appeal and if 5 or 10 per cent of people follow our appeal, 10 per cent pollution will come down which will be big achievements for us,” he said.

“We will organise it in entire Delhi on January 22 and I am very sure that we will succeed... I will also cycle to my office on January 22,” Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering in Dwarka.

Kejriwal also vowed to soon take Car-Free Day from being symbolic to a reality. At present, the government holds such Car-Free Day on 22nd of every month on separate stretches in different areas.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that government will make an appeal to people not to use their private cars on January 22.

“We will appeal to the people of Delhi to use cycle or public transport to their offices on January 22. Besides, government will also organise a cycle rally on separate stretches as part of ‘Car-Free Day’,” Rai said.

Delhi Traffic Police did not allow private cars between Sector 3-13 and Sector 7-9 choosen as ‘car-free’ stretch.

He also said that when some NGOs and Centre for Science and Environment measured pollution level between Red Fort and India Gate during the first ‘Car-Free Day’ last month, they found that there was 60 per cent decrease in pollution level on the stretch.

“There were several talks about the exact reason of rising pollution in Delhi but it was made clear when pollution came down between Red Fort and India Gate because cars did not run on this stretch,” he added.

“December 22-Car free day in East Delhi. Jan22 –let’s all leave the car for one day and go to office on cycle or public transport. I’ll go to my office on cycle,” Kejriwal later tweeted.

The chief minister said that when transport minister Gopal Rai decided to hold 'Car-Free Day' on 22nd of every month, he had two doubts in his mind.

“First doubt was that whether people will participate in such an event in large numbers and the second one was that whether I would be able to ride cycle. But, both doubts were cleared with most people taking part in ‘Car-Free Day’ and becoming able to use cycle,” Kejriwal also said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was also present on the occasion, said that a cycle must be there in every household.

“With two ‘Car-Free Days’ in October and November, most people, including rich, have now started realising that they can ride cycle... People’s hesitation to ride cycle has been finished,” Sisodia said.

At some crossing, transport department staff and volunteers offered roses to those reluctant to put breaks on their vehicles between Sector 3-13 and Sector 7-9 on Sunday.

Chief Secretary K K Sharma said that the government will leave no stone unturned to make the city’s air clean. The Aam Aadmi Party's Women Wing also participated in Sunday’s event.

Transport Minister Rai said, “It is true that public transport is not in a better condition so that people leave their cars, but in view of rising pollution in Delhi, we will have to do something in this regard.”

Image: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cycles after addressing a gathering in Dwarka, raising awareness about his 'car free' day on January 22