Reduce bus fares to promote public transport, says Jung

Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday asked the Transport Department to mull reducing fares in all public buses for the next two months to promote the use of public transport.

The direction came during a meeting held at Raj Niwas here to review the condition of air pollution in Delhi keeping the winter months in mind when the pollution levels see a sudden spike.

A statement from Jung's office said that Transport Minister Satyendar Jain has assured that the department will work out the modalities of reducing the bus fares across different slabs.

Jung also directed officials to pay special attention at reducing pollution at Anand Vihar in east Delhi which has a major bus depot and railway station after Environment Secretary Chandraker Bharti pointed out that pollution readings for the city were high by 20 per cent due to high pollution being recorded at the spot.

Bharti also flagged the issue of idling of vehicles on city roads.

According to the statement, 200 traffic bottle necks have been identified in Delhi and data has been shared with agencies concerned so that traffic can be eased at these spots, which will reduce idling of vehicles and bring down vehicular pollution.

During the meeting, Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary Ashwani Kumar informed Jung that by February end, all U-turns at Delhi borders, meant to turn away vehicles only transiting through the city, will become operational.

The Lt. Governor said that efforts to control pollution must not abate and all measures should be taken to check pollution through the winter months.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain and Manju Mohan from Centre for Atmospheric Sciences.

--IANS

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