City Administration Employees To Cycle Or Walk To Office Every Friday : Marketing Stunt or Genuine Step in right direction?

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking the initiative of a green and sustainable tomorrow. It has asked all employees including the outsourced staff to come to office on a cycle or by walking once in a week. Hence the employees would come to office through cycle on Friday to promote a better city environment, healthy lifestyle and greener tomorrow.

While the use of cycle and walking comes under the non motorised transport (NMT) initiative of the city administration, Bhubaneswar has in the past, taken steps like organising Patha Utsav on Janpath between Master Canteen and Ram Mandir Square every Sunday morning.

“The initiative is a step towards creating sustainable Smart Cities and contributing something for better city environment and indirectly putting some micro efforts towards better world environment and lessening the burden arising due to global warming and climate change.’’ said Chief Executive Officer of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, Prem Chandra Chaudhary.

Interestingly, as per the figures available from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), while the city’s population as per the 2011 Census is around 10 lakh, there are more than 14 lakh vehicles in the city. Vehicles outnumbering human population has become a major concern and already the State Government has initiated work on developing a low-carbon mobility plan (LCMP) for the state capital.

“Cycling culture can be developed with a 360-degree approach. I am very happy that BSCL, BDA and BMC are asking their employees to come to office on cycle every Friday. Learning from this, other Government organisations and corporate houses might also come forward and replicate the idea for a better and sustainable city.’’ said Secretary Bhubaneswar Cycling and Adventure Club Ajay Nanda.

Is this a great initiative or just an advertising stunt, what do you think?