Dubai: Private organisations will also observe ‘Car Free Day' from next year as Dubai Municipality plans to reach out to people across various segments to do their bit for the environment and support its initiative.
"Next year we will reach out to the private sector. Some companies have already shown interest in participating and have contacted us. We want everyone to participate," Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News.
Lootah, along with officials from 19 government departments, took the Dubai Metro to work yesterday morning. The civic body director-general boarded the Metro from Etisalat Metro Station and was accompanied by Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education, and heads of several other departments.
While many officials started from Etisalat Station, taking the Green Line, some also joined on the way and alighted at the Union Square Metro Station where an environment exhibition was organised. CNG and electric powered cars were showcased.
More than 3,500 people are estimated to have left their cars home and used public transport yesterday.
Great experience
Lootah said: "It was a great experience, it was quite convenient to take the Metro. A large number of government officials and employees joined us. Last year, we had only about four departments apart from the municipality, but this time it is 19, which shows the enthusiasm and also environmental consciousness."
"I parked my car near the Metro station and took the train. I realised that not only did it save me the stress of driving in the early morning and the traffic that one meets on the way, I felt it is quite practical to use public transport," said a government employee.
"Especially for people whose workplaces are close to a Metro station, it does not require much effort," said Naseem, a municipality employee.
The municipality's parking lots were closed yesterday and working hours were relaxed so as to encourage employees to use public transport.
"The participation has been quite encouraging — even more than we expected. Last year the initiative saved the environment from about four tonnes of carbon emissions. This time the participation is much higher and we expect to save much beyond ten tonnes of carbon emissions," said Director of Environment Department Hamdan Khalifa Al Shair.
Car Free Day, launched in 2010, was observed in cooperation with more than 18 government departments, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Land Department, Etisalat, the Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
