Delhi government asks LG to review ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign
The campaign encourages commuters to turn off their phones while waiting for the green light.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has re-submitted the ‘Red Lights, Gaadi Off’ campaign for the approval of Central Governor VK Saxena. The updated file contains evidence highlighting that such campaigns have reduced vehicle pollution in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The city government had planned a month-long campaign that would begin October 28 but was postponed due to delays in approval from LG.
LG Saxena, on Saturday, returned the file to Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to review the campaign and question the effectiveness of such a “special” measure. However, Rai, while speaking at a press conference, said that 40 cities across India have launched such efforts to reduce pollution levels caused by vehicles.
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The campaign was first launched on October 16, 2020, and in this campaign, drivers are encouraged to turn off their engines while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. According to government estimates, the transport sector accounts for 28% of PM2.5 emissions in Delhi.
Rai announced earlier that 2,500 civil defense volunteers will be deployed this year to oversee the implementation of the campaign at 100 key intersections. Another 10 volunteers will be deployed at each traffic signal in two shifts.
A PTI report says that based on government estimates, the transport sector is responsible for 28% of PM2.5 emissions in the city. The contribution of vehicles also makes up 80% of the nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in Delhi’s air. Additionally, data from the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) shows that if people turned off their engines at traffic signals, pollution could be reduced by 13 to 20 percent.
First published date: October 31, 2022, 6:20 PM IST