The two leaders' ride in the metro was seen as a vote for clean energy -- "An eco-friendly ride," tweeted PM Modi's office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his guest, French President Francois Hollande, boarded a Delhi Metro train today to reach Gurgaon in neighbouring Haryana.
The French President is in India as the chief guest of the Republic Day Parade, but today, the two leaders were in Gurgaon to inaugurate an Interim Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance or ISA.
At the Paris climate change summit held last year, more than 90 nations made a strong commitment to cut down on emissions and switch to clean energy - the emphasis on generation of solar power is a step in that direction.
The two leaders' ride in the metro was seen as a vote for clean energy -- "An eco-friendly ride," tweeted PM Modi's office. Segolene Royal, prominent French politician and President Hollande's partner, accompanied them. Sources said the public were not allowed into the metro for about an hour as part of security measures.
The leaders took the metro even as the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road and MG Road were expected to be shut down in preparation for the visit. In anticipation of the VIP cavalcade, heavy vehicles were also barred from a part of the National Highway 8.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Frence President Francois Hollande being welcomed at the inauguration of the ISA.
The ISA is specialised platform for cooperation among 121 sun drenched countries located predominantly in the tropical belt, who aim to increase the utilisation and promotion of solar energy. India had unveiled the solar alliance at the climate change summit. France had hailed it, calling the idea a "game changer".
"Countries that receive more than 300 days of sunlight must come together to form a solar alliance and group," the Prime Minister said at the inauguration today.
"ISA will work towards reducing global warming. This is a global and independent institution like the World Health Organisation and the United Nations."
Under the ISA, India plans to install 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 and non-fossil fuel electricity generating systems, which will account for 40% of the energy capacity by 2030.
"Solar Alliance is India's gift to the world for combating climate change and France is proud to lead with you," President Hollande said today.
The French Development Agency, he said, will allocate 300 million euros towards developing solar energy over the next five years. These funds will be utilised to finance initial projects.