War on air pollution: Raahgiri pedals from Gurgaon to CP

The Times of India , Monday, April 06, 2015
Correspondent : TNN
GURGAON: On an unusually cool April morning, around 150 cyclists set out from DLF Galleria market for a 36km ride to the centre of Delhi. The purpose of this cyclothon was to raise awareness of the hazards that vehicular pollution poses for residents in the NCR, and to promote non-motorised transport.

The cycle ride from Gurgaon to Connaught Place was organised by Nagarro, a city-based software firm.

Altogether, around 150 men and women took part, including a trio of cyclists from Ghaziabad, who had made the long journey to Gurgaon for the Sunday ride. Pedal enthusiasts also joined the ride at Dwarka and Dhaula Kuan, the two stop points in Delhi.

The entire distance took approximately one-and-a-half hours to cover, and with a sunny day welcoming the riders, it made for a pleasurable 90 minutes on the road.

"We're delighted with the response, and everybody was happy with the whole event - it was a wonderful ride," said Nagarro's Megha Jha. Leading from the front was Manas Fuloria, CEO of Nagarro, who also cycled all the way back to Gurgaon.

Even the police en route were encouraging the riders, going out of their way to make sure they were safe. "We could never have imagined this a few years back, and it shows that things are actually changing on the ground," admitted Jha.

"In CP, the NDMC had set up a stage, and asked us to address people and explain why we're doing this," Jha added.

Clearly, the people are getting the message. Sarika Panda Bhatt, of the Raahgiri Foundation, said the ride was proof that mindsets are slowly changing. "People from all walks of life are taking to cycling in their daily lives, and respect for cyclists and pedestrians has risen tremendously. "The governments in Haryana and Delhi are also asking us to promote non-motorised transport," she said.

Soon, the latest model of cycle (rather than that sexy new SUV) might be the most sought-after form of transport in the market. The many hoping for a cleaner and safer NCR would be looking forward to that day.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Gurgaon/War-on-air-pollution-Raahgiri-pedals-from-Gurgaon-to-CP/articleshow/46818370.cms
 


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