NEW DELHI (AP) – One of the world’s most polluted capitals, New Delhi, closed a major stretch of a road to private cars for a few hours Thursday, hoping to give its citizens a brief breath of fresh air by observing a car-free day.
Only public transport was allowed on the road from Old Delhi to the doorstep of Parliament.
The city’s top elected official, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues, led hundreds of cyclists as they pedaled the route to encourage people to use public transport.
“All of us have to do our bit to decongest the roads and to reduce pollution. People should leave their cars and start using public transport and bicycles,” Kejriwal said as he prepared to lead the cyclists.
Although the event covered only a six-kilometer (4-mile) stretch, many people hailed the government’s effort as a first step to clean the city’s heavily polluted air.