Jung supports Delhi govt’s Car-Free Day

Days after Delhi Police denied permission to observe ‘Car-Free Day’ here, LG Najeeb Jung today supported the government’s initiative and said police will make extra arrangements to hold such an event on October 22.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that ‘Car-Free Day’, planned to be held on the day on the stretch from Red Fort to India Gate, will now be observed between Red Fort and Tilak Lane.

Rai also said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will participate in a cycle rally to be held on the same stretch till the India Gate.

The minister said that government will invite the LG, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Environment Minister Prakash Javedkar to take a part in the event.

“As Dussehra is on October 22, police has to make a lot of arrangements on that day. We know that there will be extra efforts and strain on police...I have spoken to Police Commissioner and Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) and they have agreed to make extra efforts on that day (October 22),” Jung told reporters here.

He said that instead of observing ‘Car-Free Day’ throughout the day, the event will be held from 7 AM to 12 noon on stretch between Red Fort and Tilak Marg Police station because there is no possibility of blocking C-Hexagon roads around India Gate as it will affect the city’s traffic movement extensively.

“Car-Free Day aims to make people understand that they should not drive their private cars on October 22 and should use public transport instead. If you do not run this drive continuously, this message will not go among the people. This is a very good initiative to make people aware on using their cars less and resort to public transport,” Jung said.