Oil Minister has urged states to declare one day of the week as a 'bus day' during which all may be encouraged to use only public transport for their daily commute
There's no way to know if Mayor Michael Bloomberg's trip on the New York subway was the inspiration behind the Centre's latest austerity drive. Though we know for sure New Delhi is no New York.
During New Delhi's peak hours, for example, forget finding a seat, even getting enough place to stand is a challenge in local buses. But it seems the government wants citizens to do just that, i.e. take the bus to work at least once a week.
The government has also urged the Chief Ministers of the states and heads of Public Sector Undertakings or PSUs to follow the proposal.
Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily today said, "I urge all Chief Ministers, major PSU heads and heads of different central ministries to declare one day of the week as a 'bus day' during which all may be encouraged to use only public transport for their daily commute."
Other suggestions from the minister include staggered office timings for government officers, free cycle scheme in select cities, better maintenance of vehicles, switching off the engines at traffic lights, and proper maintenance of tractors and diesel pumps.
Though the government says these measures are not mandatory, many in the opposition as well on the streets are asking why the government can't lead by example.
A commuter on a crowded bus said, "The idea of austerity is good, but these steps are so impractical. How does the government plan to implement them?"
Another said, "People will follow only when they see the government take the first step. Asking the Chief Ministers to travel in buses... who are we kidding?"
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said, "If the government really expects people to follow them, why not start from the Prime Minister's office or with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi? Or maybe Rahul Gandhi? Will they cycle across town?"
The CPI's D Raja told NDTV, "This is all attempt to camouflage the real issue which is the failure of the government to do something on the rising oil prices."
The problem of rising oil import costs is real and serious, but many feel these austerity measures come nowhere close to seriously tackling them and actually take away its gravity.