NEW DELHI: In a bid to promote fuel conservation amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the ‘Metro Monday’ initiative on Monday. The move comes in direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for citizens to adopt sustainable practices and reduce fuel consumption during this period of global economic uncertainty.
Leading by example, Chief Minister Gupta travelled by Metro from Kashmere Gate to ITO station, subsequently taking an electric feeder bus to the Delhi Secretariat. She was accompanied during her commute by Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Verma and Ravindra Indraj.
The ‘Metro Monday’ initiative falls under the broader ‘Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan’ campaign. On its inaugural day, several Delhi government ministers and senior officials actively participated by utilizing the Metro and other public transport services to reach their workplaces.
Call for Action and New Administrative Measures Appealing directly to the citizens of Delhi, Gupta emphasized the dual benefits of the initiative. “I would like to request all citizens that we all should use public transport as much as possible. This will not only save fuel for the country but is also extremely essential for our Delhi,” she stated, highlighting the added benefit of reducing the capital’s pollution levels.
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive series of coordinated measures being implemented at both the administrative and private-sector levels to improve urban mobility and conserve energy:
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Work-From-Home Policy: The Delhi government will implement two days of work-from-home each week. A similar advisory will be issued to private companies and institutions, with the Labour Department tasked to monitor its adoption.
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Foreign Travel Freeze: A one-year freeze has been placed on official foreign visits for government personnel.
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‘No Vehicle Day’: Citizens are strongly urged to observe a weekly ‘No Vehicle Day’ by opting for public transport over private vehicles.
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Revised Office Timings: To ease congestion, Delhi government offices will now operate from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, while Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices will run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Gupta concluded by expressing her gratitude to the citizens who participated in the inaugural ‘Metro Monday’, adding, “Let us together make Delhi even better.”
