Hyderabad: Car-Free Thursday was an initiative started on August 6 in the IT corridor of Hyderabad in an attempt to tackle the ever increasing traffic and pollution. Six weeks later, the campaign has led to reduction of 10-20% of vehicles on the road, increased bus ridership and also less pollution on Thursdays.
Every Thursday morning, cheerful volunteers in the Hitech city thank all those commuters who take bus to work. Holding placards to spread awareness, they also appeal people to give up their cars for one day and travel in more eco-friendly and sustainable transport like bus, local train, bicycle, shared auto-rickshaw, carpool or even walk up to their offices. In first-of-its-kind of initiative, every Thursday is “car-free day" in the IT corridor of Hyderabad. Started from August 6, in 6 weeks the impact is noticeable.
According to reports, most companies reported 10-20% reduction in cars, an average of 10,000 vehicles have been off road on Thursdays. The initiative has saved more than 2,00,000 man-hours of time, reduced more than 1 lakh litres of fuel and resulted in increased ridership in buses by 11,000 every Thursday.
The campaign targets about 20-25% of employees in the IT sector coming in their own cars.
Speaking to CNN-IBN, President of Hyderabad Software Exporters’ Association (HYSEA) Ramesh Loganathan said, “In some companies vehicles have reduced to 50%. We are trying to reach out to maximum people in our next phase. People are showing interest in car pooling, buses".
The initiative is not just aimed to solve traffic congestion or parking problems and but also to reduce pollution. On Thursdays, 273 tons of greenhouse gases were averted and this is equivalent to what 200 acres of forested area takes to absorb.
The campaign is being promoted through social media like Facebook to reach maximum number of people. Over a thousand companies in the IT sector have extended their support along with various NGOs and car pooling companies and even Telangana State Road Transport Corporation. Continuous efforts are being made to encourage people to join this campaign.
The campaign has once again proved that citizens can only bring in change, few can make this impact, undoubtedly if cities across India decide to leave their cars, life will be easier on road.
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