Babus pedal to work, judges carpool for a pollution-free Patiala

Holding true to their commitment to motivate denizens to reduce pollution and decongest city roads, bureaucrats, judges and advocates left the red beacons and cars behind and opted for carpooling or cycling as part of “Car-free Day” observed on Wednesday.

Holding true to their commitment to motivate denizens to reduce pollution and decongest city roads, bureaucrats, judges and advocates left the red beacons and cars behind and opted for carpooling or cycling as part of “Car-free Day” observed on Wednesday.

(Right to left) DC Varun Roojam, Patiala SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and Patiala SDM Gurpal Singh Chahal pedalling to work on Wednesday. (Bharat Bhushan/HT Photo)

While six judges led by district and sessions judge HS Madaan opted for carpool, additional sessions judge Rajinder Aggarwal, besides other judges Parminder Singh, Sumit Ghai and Kapil Aggarwal, reached the district courts on bicycles, while other judicial officers, such as SS Joshan, reached work on two-wheelers.

Donning helmets, deputy commissioner (DC) Varun Roojam and Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, accompanied by Patiala sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurpal Singh Chahal, too, pedalled to work, while grabbing the attention of plenty curious onlookers on the way.

Members of the District Bar Association, Patiala on bicycles in Patiala on Wednesday.

Several lawyers, including District Bar Association president Bhupinder Singh Virk, court employees and public prosecutors followed suit.

DC Varun Roojam said hopefully their move would be emulated by the residents, especially youngsters who often drove to colleges and universities in flashy vehicles.

“The growing traffic is indeed a serious problem that requires augmentation of infrastructure, but such small efforts may also prove to be a helping hand in decongesting the city roads and reduce the pollution level,” he added.

SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said only a strong will could eliminate the threat of pollution. “If the number of bicycle users increases on city roads, the discharge of pollutants from vehicles will reduce. But this is only possible with the cooperation of people from all walks of life,” the top cop said.