Citizens show the way on Day 1
Highlights
A number of Delhiites willingly opted to share their car, cab ride on Friday, the first day of the Delhi government\'s implementation of odd-even traffic regulation scheme to curb rising pollution.
New Delhi: A number of Delhiites willingly opted to share their car, cab ride on Friday, the first day of the Delhi government's implementation of odd-even traffic regulation scheme to curb rising pollution.
A number of commuters IANS spoke to said they happily shared their ride. According to the odd-even scheme, odd- and even-numbered four-wheelers will ply on Delhi's road on alternate dates.
Vanaja S. told IANS: "I shared an auto with two of my colleagues to work from Dwarka. To my surprise, Delhi roads were traffic free." "Many of us are thrilled to share a vehicle and come to the office even if it's just for 15 days," she added. The response was similar in several government offices and many workers were thrilled to share a vehicle with their colleagues to reach their workplace.
"It was a bit like a picnic as it was fun to travel with my colleagues chatting," said Janaki Ram, another office-goer who travels to Connaught Place for work. A senior official of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) told IANS: "My car is odd numbered, so I drove the vehicle with a few other colleagues. But I will make alternative arrangements on even numbered dates."
"It is a bit exhausting, but I think we can manage to comply by the rules for two weeks," the official said. Gyanendra, a dentist at Maulana Azad Institute of Medical Sciences, said: "I think it is a good step to check pollution in Delhi. We should not term the initiative unsuccessful even before it starts." People opted for different modes of transport such as Metro and/or buses to reach their destination. Central government employee S.B. Shashank said: "My office is just half a kilometre from my house, so I might as well cycle to office tomorrow."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal chose to reprise British singer John Lennon's song "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," Kejriwal tweeted.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai thanked Delhi Police and civil defence volunteers for doing a good job on the first day of the trial run of odd-even vehicular scheme which was well received by people. Rai said though he was "unsuccessful" in spotting cars bearing even numbered registration plates, a handful of violators were fined in the capital. The minister said that the number of violators was "negligible".
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