Delhi observes third Car-Free Day on Vikas Marg stretch

New Delhi, Dec 22: In continued efforts to check pollution in the national capital, a Car-Free Day - third in Delhi so far - was organised on Tuesday on the Vikas Marg stretch in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar area.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia led a cycle rally from Nirman Vihar Metro Station on the Vikas Marg to mark the occasion.

Entry of cars was restricted on the stretch between Laxmi Nagar and Karkari Mor from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not participate in the cycle rally due to ill-health," a Delhi government official told IANS.

Twenty additional buses were pressed into service to avoid any inconvenience to the people, the official added.

Before the cycle rally, Sisodia appealed to the city residents to not use personal cars and opt for public transport just for a day in a month to help bring down pollution, the official said.

Car-Free Day, held on the 22nd day of every month, was launched by the Aam Admi Party government in October to increase public awareness about the use of public transport.

The first Car-Free Day was held on October 22 on the Red Fort-India Gate stretch and the second in Dwarka on November 22.

The increasingly toxic air in the capital prompted the judiciary to nudge the state government into checking pollution.

Reacting to the pollution crisis, the city government decided to allow plying of only even-odd numbered private vehicles on alternate days of the week from January 1, next year.

IANS