Arvind Kejriwal to cycle to office on January 22 as city to go car-free

In a bid to make Delhi pollution-free, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that “Car-Free Day” will be organised across the city on January 22, saying that he will cycle to his office that day. He also said that the city government with people’s support will run campaign to encourage masses to use cycle or public transport to reach their offices on January 22.

“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,” Mr Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering in Dwarka. The government organised 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 Mr Kejriwal and participation of school children, and IAS and Danics officers.

“If we reduce cars on the roads of Delhi, pollution level can come down significantly. 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.

Mr 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, the government will also organise a cycle rally on separate stretches as part of ‘Car-Free Day’,” Mr Rai said. The traffic police did not allow private cars between Sector 3-13 and Sector 7-9 chosen as “car-free” stretch.