Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to save petrol and diesel, there seems to be little change on tourists and vehicle owners coming from other states to Dehradun and Mussoorie, often called the Queen of the Hills.
As per data from the Asharodi check post, the main entry point to Dehradun, a total of 14,218 vehicles entered the city by midnight last Friday during the weekend rush. In comparison, by 8 pm on Friday, the number had already crossed 12,019 vehicles entering the capital.
Though government ministers and officials may be observing “No Vehicle Day,” the heavy traffic on highways shows a very different picture.
As part of energy conservation measures, the Uttarakhand Information Department has announced that every Saturday will be observed as a “No Vehicle Day.”
Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari on Friday asked departmental officers and employees to travel by public transport, bicycles and other alternative modes on Saturdays. He said small individual efforts can together help save fuel and protect the environment.
The move comes after decisions made in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier this week. As per an official statement, the Chief Minister said global events, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ongoing crisis in West Asia, have increased pressure on fuel supply chains and created economic challenges for India.
The Uttarakhand government has announced a range of short-term and long-term measures, such as promoting work-from-home, encouraging public transport use, reducing government vehicle fleets, and expanding EV infrastructure. It also plans to bring in an EV policy that will require 50 per cent of all new government vehicles to be electric.
Also read: Dehradun Police seize ₹1.55-cr cash from SUV, 3 held
Follow us
