GURGAON: In light of the Supreme Court order directing diesel vehicles to convert to CNG or face banishment from the roads, it's as good a time as any to take stock of what has been achieved by Gurgaon in 2015, in helping tackle the chronic air pollution.
Following a year that saw the launch of Car-Free Day - or, more accurately, 'parking' free day, when corridors in the city were left out of bounds for parked vehicles - what Gurgaonites would desire more than anything is for the local administration to give a push to building cycle lanes and increasing the number of footpaths. Cyclists and pedestrians, after all, end up suffering the most.
While Car-Free Day did get off to an encouraging start back in September, each ensuing Tuesday has seen dwindling levels of interest, though cold weather or hot, it continues to have its devotees, among them corporates, schoolchildren and residents.
Still, what Tuesdays in Gurgaon have done is get folks thinking seriously of using carpooling in their everyday commute. And private players, seeing that last-mile connectivity - as well as a lack of reliability and safety - comes in the way of workers using public transport, have introduced shuttle-bus services (Meribus, Mojo, Ola, ZipGo), while existing operators like Shuttl saw an opportunity to expand their reach.
ManasFuloria, CEO of Nagarro Software, whose company has been an enthusiastic supporter of Car Free Day, said desperate times call for desperate measures. Speaking to TOI after the Delhi government's 'odd-even' announcement, he believed the situation has become so critical that urgent steps are the need of the hour. And better late than never. "It is a sign that we have woken up, and are alert to the problem now," said Fuloria.
Meanwhile, the next phase of Rapid Metro (Sikanderpur to sectors 55-56), the city's impressive but still little-used mass transit system, will only be ready by November 2016, while the MCG's much-trumpeted bus service has yet to get off the ground - till date, the civic body remains undecided whether to opt for a cost-effective option or an eco-friendly one. Considering the heat that the conversation over air pollution has generated, this should be a no-brainer.
Certainly, there is a need for a long-term perspective, alongside a concerted switch to alternative - and non-polluting - means of transport. The city administration, corporates and an informed citizenry should come together for a cleaner and safer metro.
