Mayor’s appeal for weekly ‘no car day’ draws support, practical concerns from residents

Indore: With traffic congestions, fuel cost, and pollution levels becoming growing concerns in the city, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav has appealed to residents to voluntarily keep their cars off roads every Friday and shift towards eco-friendly transport options.The appeal has drawn mixed but largely positive reactions from citizens, many of whom called it a meaningful step towards encouraging responsible urban travel habits.As part of the initiative, the mayor himself travels on a two-wheeler every Friday instead of using his official vehicle. On these days, he attends office work, official meetings, inspections, and public programmes using the two-wheeler as part of the civic body’s larger message on environmental awareness and reducing unnecessary fuel consumption.Civic officials believe that if residents voluntarily reduce use of private four-wheelers even once a week, it could help lower congestion on city roads while also encouraging greater use of public transport, cycling, and shared mobility options.Residents gave mixed but largely positive reactions to the initiative. “Even one day without cars can create awareness about how dependent we have become on private vehicles,” said Vijay Nagar resident Richa Mehta. She said many people travelling short distances could shift to two-wheelers, bicycles, or shared transport at least occasionally.College student Harsh Jain said that the campaign may especially influence younger citizens. “If public representatives themselves follow such practices regularly, people are more likely to take the message seriously,” he said.At the same time, several residents pointed to practical issues that may limit participation. A daily commuter, Abhijeet Desai, said that many people living in outer areas still lack reliable and convenient public transport options. “For office-goers travelling long distances, avoiding cars is not always easy,” he said.Some residents also highlighted the extreme summer conditions currently prevailing in the city. “Using two-wheelers or public transport during afternoon heat can be difficult for families and elderly people,” said Snehlata Sharma of Saket.Environmental groups welcomed the appeal and suggested that Indore Municipal Corporation should further strengthen cycling infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly roads, and public transport connectivity to support such behavioural changes in the long run.Photo quotesPeople usually expect environmental change to come only from govts, but traffic and pollution in cities can reduce only when citizens also change habits. Avoiding cars once a week can make people think differently about fuel useVijay Malviya, BusinessmanUrban transport discussions in India mostly focus on infrastructure, but behavioural change is equally important. Campaigns like this help create social awareness, especially among younger generations who are more open to sustainable travel choicesVipul Patel, ProfessorAs a teacher, I feel such public appeals work best when they start conversations within families, schools and colleges. Children observe these practices closely and often influence adults too. Environmental responsibility becomes stronger when it turns into a shared social habitAditi Singh Bhadauria, Writer & ProfessorMany business owners today are already thinking about sustainability in different ways, whether through reducing waste or limiting fuel consumption. If the city supports better public transport and safer roads, more people may actually participate in this kind of initiativeKhushi Upadhyay, Businesswoman