Kerala   

Vehicle pooling mooted to reduce traffic congestion in city

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Aimed at reducing the number of private vehicles that enter the city every day, the Stallions International has given shape to a `Ride-Together' scheme.

This is because most cars and bikes entering the city during peak hours carry just one passenger. The scheme is aimed at discouraging people from venturing into the city in individual private vehicles.

"For example, four people who drive to a common place in the city daily from the suburbs in their cars can get together and use a single car. They can take turns in using each other's car," says N. Gopakumar, past Cabinet president of the organisation.

"Which means, a person needs to take out his car only once every four days, thus saving on fuel, wear-and-tear and above all, the stress related to driving. By making minor changes in their schedule, they can also return home together. Not only will this considerably reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the city, it will in the long run reduce parking travails."

Mr. Gopakumar says that such arrangements are gaining prevalence in the metros. "Above all, like-minded people are making new friends through the arrangement. We have selected coordinators in Kakkanad, Edapally, Thripunithura, Vytilla, Fort Kochi and Aluva, to help people who are interested in the scheme."

"With bumper-to-bumper traffic making commuting difficult, vehicle pooling (sharing rides) will become inevitable in Kochi. We have started printing pamphlets to spread the message. We have also asked the RTO to increase awareness about the need to shift to public transport, like buses and trains. Anyone can join the ride-together scheme, at no fee." Details can be had from 2357836 or Venkitadri - 94463 61283.

Ernakulam RTO M.N. Prabhakaran said that his office alone registered 70 to 80 vehicles per day. "A similar number is registered in Aluva. The eight RTO offices altogether register around 250 vehicles per day. This is quite a phenomenal number. Unless the mass public transport system is revamped and systems like car-pooling encouraged, the situation will go out of hand," he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Eight-hour duty schedule in 17 police stations
Use and misuse of Internet on the rise
Online counselling for Cusat B.Tech. course
KWA begins work on `Choondy Scheme'
Six factors identified as disaster risks in Kochi
Boat owners not to violate extended ban on trawling
KSRTC's debt equation with IOC remains the same
Vehicle pooling mooted to reduce traffic congestion in city
10-paise call rate scheme for BSNL pre-paid customers
Scheme to reduce `book load' evokes good response
Talks with Government a farce, say managements
Meeting of great literary minds
End stalemate, AKPCTA tells university
Honouring the Chief Khasi
Cusat to introduce MBA twinning programme
Number of pending cases reduced
`Food for the Hungry' project launch tomorrow
India Post introduces `Rakhi envelope'
Chambakkara boat race on August 27
Building inauguration
Supreme Court to hear Kerala plea on August 7
Briefly
Reader's Mail

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu