'No-car day' in Chandigarh: Punjab governor takes electric bus; officials ride bicycles to work

Chandigarh observed its first 'no car-day' with officials commuting by bicycles, walking, or using public transport, following Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's appeal to reduce fuel consumption.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday travelled by an electric bus while many officials commuted to work using bicycles as the Union territory observed the first 'no car-day'.

Last week, the governor asked UT officials to avoid using four-wheelers every Wednesday in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to cut down fuel consumption.

He encouraged officials to ride bicycles, walk or use public transport. The Chandigarh administration made special transport arrangements for ferrying employees on Wednesday after the governor's appeal.

Kataria reached an event in Baltana by electric bus and said, ''I had said the UT officials would not use their cars every Wednesday, and today is the first day; it is an experiment,'' he said.

No official will use a car to commute every Wednesday, he asserted and said he will be travelling in an electric bus to reach his office.

''Everybody should make efforts to save fuel,'' he said, adding that even the students will now be asked to use bicycles or public transport to get to schools one day a week.

Last week, the prime minister significantly reduced his convoy size, days after his appeal for lowering fuel consumption and other expenses, prompting several BJP chief ministers and other leaders to adopt similar measures.