Fazilka, a small township near India Pakistan border has removed the “car” from its streets. In a first of its sort in India, this little town has implemented the unique concept of “Car Free City”. Fazilka’s city centre will have to do without motorized four wheelers and heavy vehicles for 12 hours during day time. In this innovative first, special emphasis through traffic calming devices and permanent barriers at few locations has been installed to make this zone as pedestrian and cycle friendly.
The credit for the successful implementation of this concept goes to Mr. Anil Sethi, newly elected President of Municipal Council Fazilka. Fazilka city and its residents are already doing many activities to promote Non-motorised vehicle (NMV) for transport within the city. The people of Fazilka are spreading the awareness for the cause of suppressing effect of Global Warming through energy conservation and transportation in this unique way. 77-80% of the air pollution is contributed by transportation sector alone.
Last year, through one week long “Fazilka Heritage Festival” this experiment as a part of case study was conducted by Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) by keeping same city central zone as car free zone. Study revealed that, this experiment had not just improved the quality of social life but also improved the law and order, environment through less air pollution emitted, economy and road safety of the residents. As a part of study and analysis random sampling was done under randomized controlled conditions.
Communities that are NMV-friendly are seen as places with a high quality of life in the society. NMV-friendly communities are places where people feel safe and comfortable riding their cycles and walking for fun, fitness, and transportation. Encouraging NMV is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people joining NMV, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness. In addition, NMV-friendly towns are often seen as most safe place to live.
Let us hope all the cities and townships in the whole of India also follows suit and implement this innovative idea to make India as a whole a better place to live in.
The credit for the successful implementation of this concept goes to Mr. Anil Sethi, newly elected President of Municipal Council Fazilka. Fazilka city and its residents are already doing many activities to promote Non-motorised vehicle (NMV) for transport within the city. The people of Fazilka are spreading the awareness for the cause of suppressing effect of Global Warming through energy conservation and transportation in this unique way. 77-80% of the air pollution is contributed by transportation sector alone.
Last year, through one week long “Fazilka Heritage Festival” this experiment as a part of case study was conducted by Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) by keeping same city central zone as car free zone. Study revealed that, this experiment had not just improved the quality of social life but also improved the law and order, environment through less air pollution emitted, economy and road safety of the residents. As a part of study and analysis random sampling was done under randomized controlled conditions.
Communities that are NMV-friendly are seen as places with a high quality of life in the society. NMV-friendly communities are places where people feel safe and comfortable riding their cycles and walking for fun, fitness, and transportation. Encouraging NMV is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people joining NMV, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness. In addition, NMV-friendly towns are often seen as most safe place to live.
Let us hope all the cities and townships in the whole of India also follows suit and implement this innovative idea to make India as a whole a better place to live in.
