New Delhi: The first Car-Free Day in the national capital led to a 60 per cent drop in the air pollution on the car-free stretch in comparison to the levels observed on a normal day, a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said today.
"The car-free initiative as well as the low traffic load on the national holiday of Dussehra has helped lower the pollution levels and toxic exposure in the city.
"Today (Thursday), the air particulate matter (PM 2.5) was 265 micrograms per cubic metre (cu m) in comparison to a normal day, when the particulate normally was 689 micrograms per cu m," said the report released today.
PM2.5 is tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
The Car-Free Day in Delhi was observed on the stretch between Red Fort and India Gate with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading a cycle rally in the morning.
The exposure monitoring on the road was carried out by CSE first on October 21 -- a regular day -- and during the car-free event today.
In the series of tweets, he said: "Almost 60 per cent reduction in pollution noted on that road. It means traffic is main culprit. We have to reduce traffic."
"The car-free initiative as well as the low traffic load on the national holiday of Dussehra has helped lower the pollution levels and toxic exposure in the city.
"Today (Thursday), the air particulate matter (PM 2.5) was 265 micrograms per cubic metre (cu m) in comparison to a normal day, when the particulate normally was 689 micrograms per cu m," said the report released today.
PM2.5 is tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
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The Car-Free Day in Delhi was observed on the stretch between Red Fort and India Gate with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading a cycle rally in the morning.
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The exposure monitoring on the road was carried out by CSE first on October 21 -- a regular day -- and during the car-free event today.
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In the series of tweets, he said: "Almost 60 per cent reduction in pollution noted on that road. It means traffic is main culprit. We have to reduce traffic."
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