Hyderabad: The Car-Free Thursday programme in the IT corridor which completed six months, is now focusing on initiatives like “no single occupant car in IT corridor”, and “motivating techies to travel in RTC buses instead of personal vehicles” to reduce pollution.
The Car-Free Thursday programme, which started on August 6, 2015, is being organised by the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (Hysea) in association with the Cyberabad police, TSRTC, Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), TSIIC, industry associations and NGOs.
After completing the first phase of the project to control pollution in the IT corridor, Hysea is now focusing on similar programmes in the second phase.
The first phase focused on creating awareness and enlisting volunteers. In addition to traffic junction activities and corporate outreach, a campaign called ‘One Lakh Hands’ has been initiated to sensitise motorists through letters from one lakh schoolchildren.
On Thursday Hysea announced its upcoming initiatives. Hysea has decided to prohibit single occupant cars from IT parks. Hysea is insisting that techies should go for car pools, cycling or buses.
In the second phase Hysea will demand subsidised company bus transport.
Hysea representatives said, “We thought about recommending a cash incentive for employees who go for alternative transportation systems.
We also requested the TSRTC to provide shuttle services for improving last mile connectivity. We also demand that managements should provide secured bicycling facilities and bicycle workshops inside company premises to facilitate maintenance.”
Hysea president Ramesh Loganathan said, “As we crossed the six month mark efforts are on to institutionalise the Car-Free Thursday initiative to bring about lasting change. The push from Cyberabad police commissioner C.V. Anand is greatly appreciated and we hope that it will help companies to encourage carpooling, cycling and bus usage.”
