For Delhi's First Car-Free Day, Arvind Kejriwal Brushes up His Cycling Skills

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is practicing riding a cycle - in preparation for the city's first Car Free Day, or rather, morning. On Thursday, when cars will not be allowed to ply in the stretch between India Gate and Red Fort from 7 am to mid-day, Mr Kejriwal and his ministers will hold a cycle rally.

The chief minister is brushing up his skills for the event, cycling every morning for half an hour over the last one week, said Delhi's Transport Minister Gopal Rai.

The inspiration comes from Gurgaon, which held its first car-free day on September 22 in a bid to lower pollution. Today, while unveiling the Car-Free Day, Mr Rai declared that the 22nd of every month will be car free in Delhi too.

On these days, bus services will be strengthened, with a bus running every 2.5 minutes. Even the auto drivers will join in, with a few of them even pledging to run a free service.
 

On September 22, which is observed as the World Car-Free Day, Millennium City Gurgaon pledged that every Tuesday, between 7 am and 7 pm, it would not bring out its cars.

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In a further bid to lower pollution and enhance safety, the Delhi government said cabs which do not run on CNG will not be allowed to ply on roads and by April 2016, all buses run by the Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster busses in Delhi will have CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi and security guards.

The government will rope in private firms to supply the security guards who will act as marshals in buses, Mr Rai said.

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Besides, 50,000 auto and taxi drivers will be added in a new app service - the "Poocho app" - which will provide last mile connectivity to run to and fro from metro stations.

The government has approved 1000 cluster buses in the city and will provide find space for five new depots inside and outside the city.