May 19, 2006 :: A pedestrian plaza in Pune

Once a pensioners’ paradise, Pune is today a very polluted city. About 400 new vehicles are added daily to a growing stock of 14 lakhs.
Now, after nudges by the Supreme Court, a year long debate and protests by shop-keepers, M G Road is for people only for six hours each on Saturdays and Sundays.

Upto 20,000 Puneites throng the streets in a festive atmosphere. Children romp, artists display their works and plays are staged. The whole programme is run by an event management company which is permitted revenue by controlled advertising. Particulate and noise pollution levels have dropped by upto 40%.

Citizens are clamouring for more streets to follow the example but traders and municipal councillors are resisting. This would be a good cause for civil societies to agitate for. Read the full story at the India Together site.