In conversation with Gopal Rai, Minister for Transport, Delhi
Q. Your car-free day initiative was almost bust due to lack of police permission before Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung uncharacteristically stepped in your defence. Any comment?
A. The whole thing seemed to have been triggered by miscommunication; we had had several meetings over the observance of car-free day with all the stakeholders, who were on the same page before the issue of ‘permission’ arose. Thankfully, we were all able to tide over it for what we all agreed would be in the interests of the people of Delhi, who deserve less-congested streets and better quality air.
Q. Why is this insistence on observing a few hours of a car-free day on an arguably small stretch instead of larger efforts aimed at improving the system; isn’t this mere tokenism?
A. Car-free day is part of a larger programme which aims to reduce dependence on private vehicles as per the ‘Ab Bus Karen…’ initiative. The initiative has two components: an attempt by the government to improve mobility through public transport by overhauling the existing infrastructure and eliciting public participation and support. It is in line with the latter that we have decided to observe a car-free day on different stretches in the Capital on the 22nd of every month.
Q. But a lot of car users are wary of what is in store for them on October 22 despite it being a holiday (Dussehra) and the curtailed duration of the initiative; do you think you will be able to execute it on subsequent occasions, especially on weekdays?
A. We have reiterated that the objective is not to harass commuters or force them onto buses and the metro regardless of their will. The idea is to promote public transport as a viable alternative; to illustrate that commuting in Delhi is possible without owning a personal vehicle, which has become, over the years, a status symbol. All the government wishes to showcase is that it is time to move beyond that kind of tokenism for the sake of what matters the most – the health of the individual and the environment.
Q. Assuming that the government is able to deliver on this objective for the residents of Delhi, how does it seek to address similar concerns that confront professionals living in the national capital region (NCR) where the problem of last-mile connectivity is acute?
A. Any initiative related to transport infrastructure in one part of the NCR is incomplete without participation from the governments in other cities. So far, what we have made constitutes a small beginning towards the end of seamless connectivity in the region and will, in the coming days as the initiative progresses, elicit participation from the governments in other cities based on the mutual benefit in terms of reduction in congestion.
