In a city where traffic snarls,they are trying to make a difference

NGOs across the country onto one platform,decided to use it for advertising the ‘No Driving Day’ cause.

Given the rising number of cars that crowd Delhi’s streets everyday,their initiative was bound to become larger than they imagined. According to a study conducted in 2008 by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers,Delhi has the highest car density compared to all the other major metropolitan cities in the country.

The findings were alarming: Every 12th citizen in Delhi owns a private vehicle,and the Centre for Science and Environment has estimated that nearly 1,000 new vehicles are being introduced on its streets every single day.

So far,Kaplish and Tegu have managed to get large companies like Barista and PVR to ask their employees to consider keeping their cars off the roads on January 30. “Barista has also pasted posters advertising our cause in its outlets,and many of its employees have committed themselves to participating in the initiative. It is not a mandatory order,just an appeal to the employes to consider,” Kaplish says. Though the initiative is being promoted only in Mumbai,Delhi,Chennai,Bangalore and Kolkata,anyone in any city can participate simply by logging on to their portal ‘CauseBecause’ and expressing their commitment to the cause.

Other than Barista and PVR,the initiative is also being supported by the Institute of Transport and Development Policy,the Delhi Bicycling Club,the Delhi by Cycle tour and The Good Store,among others. “The ITDP has even suggested that based on the pilot project,they would be interested in replicating the project on a wider scale,” Kaplish says.

The couple have been getting e-mails from people across the country,who want to celebrate the occasion in their own way. “Somebody e-mailed to say that they will do a cycling expedition. Delhi by Cycle said their tour that day will highlight the initiative. I plan to cycle to various Barista outlets,” he adds.

Though Kaplish and Tegu admit that taking a few cars off the road for a day will not save the world,they say it could at least prove to be a good start. “The primary aim is to increase awareness by generating a debate and,hopefully,getting people to use public transport more than private vehicles,” Kaplish says.

As a model for their project,the webpage cites Seoul,where the city government has a weekly ‘No Driving Day’. This has helped keep around 2 million cars off the roads annually,and decreased the traffic volume by 3.7 per cent.

“We also looked at some Indian projects like the ‘Bus Day’ in Bangalore,when people are exhorted to use buses and ‘Meter Jam’ in Mumbai,when people are discouraged from relying on autos and taxis.”