Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has urged people to carpool, saying it would significantly reduce pollution in the city.
Citing reports, he stated that car-pooling helped cut down more than 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and remove over 30,000 vehicles from roads every day. He was speaking at an event organised by the car-pooling firm Quick Ride on Saturday.
"Car-pooling also ensures social interaction between commuters, reducing the stress on them. A reduction in vehicles on the streets means a reduction in the money spent on fuel. With the cost of importing crude oil going higher, it makes perfect sense for us to cut down our reliance on fossil fuel," he added.
Recalling the times when Bengaluru had a lot of fresh air, Parameshwara said the changing face of the city had brought along traffic congestions on roads. "While it has brought prosperity and increased job opportunities for common people, it has also led to traffic congestion on roads. The city's population has doubled in the last 18 years, from 55 lakhs to over 1.1 crores," he said.
Quick Ride, which claims to have over four lakh users in Bengaluru alone, has announced car-pooling awards to recognise and appreciate corporate companies and people who have promoted car-pooling to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the city.