Hyderabad to soon have it's own Raahgiri Day

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to take Hyderabad a step forward in its mission to evolve as a world-class city, and also empower its citizens, the Telangana government on Thursday announced the launch of the Raahgiri Day — India's first ever sustained car-free initiative. The project, successfully rolled out in New Delhi and Gurgaon, is being evangelized by The Times of India.The Hyderabad police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will play a key role in the project under 'Happening Hyderabad'.
Embarq India, an NGO working in the area of sustainable transport, has been roped in as knowledge partner for the venture that will soon reach mana sheher along with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. As part of the initiative, residents will be encouraged to shun motorized transport and indulge in physical activity for a few hours every week.
"Our cities have turned into concrete jungles. But cities are not about that, they are about people and their quality of life. I am confident that an event like Raahgiri Day will help Hyderabad become more pedestrian/women/senior citizen-friendly and thus help it grow into a great Indian city," said IT minister K T Rama Rao, who has emerged as an effective ambassador of Brand Hyderabad.
Stressing the need for such programmes, GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar said how the Raahgiri Day project would restore the right of pedestrians over Hyderabad's roads. "The roads aren't for motorists alone, pedestrians have equal right over them. But sadly, people have no place to walk these days," he said.
The government apart, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad City Police too are set to play key roles in the implementation of the Raahgiri Day.
"The programme will immensely benefit residents of the city who are usually confined to their own flats. While there are some lung spaces here and there, they aren't accessible to children," said M Mahender Reddy, commissioner of police (Hyderabad), assuring to work closely with GHMC and the state government on this project.
Explaining the concept in detail, Kingshuk Nag, Resident Editor, TOI, Hyderabad, said: "As part of this initiative, select roads on select stretches of the city will be closed to motorized traffic for a few hours on a Sunday morning so that people can use it to either dance, play music, walk, cycle or even exercise. It is aimed at empowering the people of Hyderabad, which is a crown jewel of Telangana." He noted how the initiative took roots in South America's Bogota in 1990 and has been a huge success.
Even back home, the project is expected to be a hit with residents, going by the impressive response it has received in New Delhi and Gurgaon. "I strongly feel that this programme will also help in spreading awareness among people about traffic regulations and road safety," the police commissioner added.
The initiative received much appreciation from additional commissioner of police (traffic), Jitender, too, who reiterated how it would help inculcate among residents the habit of using bicycles; something that has been missing from the city for long.
"Also, it offers a unique opportunity for government institutions and the civil society to work together. TOI has floated this idea and now government agencies have come forward. We should all lend our support to this and help in strengthening Brand Hyderabad," Nag added.