Govt to launch campaign for better public transport

In an effort to avoid a Delhi-like smog situation, the Karnataka transport department on Friday announced a new campaign to promote public transport by reducing the use of private vehicles.

The second Sunday of every month will be observed as Less Traffic Day, and citizens will be urged not to use their vehicles.

"We don't want to prohibit private vehicles. We expect right-thinking citizens to join hands with us and voluntarily not use their vehicles on the second Sunday of every month," Transport Minister H M Revanna said.

The Less Traffic Day will be launched on the second Sunday of February 2018.

"Global warming is a serious threat. We have seen what pollution can do to a city," Revanna said, referring to the dense blanket of toxic smog that has enveloped the national capital.

"Bengaluru has reached a situation where every person is  guaranteed to suffer from asthma due to the smoke emitted by lakhs of vehicles," he said.

Bengaluru has 64.36 lakh registered vehicles under the non-transport category, of which 49.42 lakh are two-wheelers. In all, the city has 71 lakh vehicles.

At present, the fourth day of every month is observed as Bus Day in Bengaluru. "Bus Day and Less Traffic Day are different. While Bus Day focuses on urging citizens to use public buses, Less Traffic Day wants citizens to use anything else but their own vehicles," Revanna said.