Tale Of Two Cities: The Delhi To Chandigarh 250 KM Walkathon Looks To Spread Awareness About Safer Roads
With an aim to teach people about why being safe on roads is important and highlight infrastructural issues on India’s roads a 250 km walkathon is being undertaken between Delhi and Chandigarh
Millions of Indians drive on roads but only a few actually come back home safe, it is a reality India needs to change. To spread awareness about road safety the Indian automotive industry and an NGO – ‘Drive Smart, Drive Safe’ has organised a 250km Walkathon from Delhi to Chandigarh during Road Safety Week 2018 (April 23-29). The mega walkathon was flagged off on April 23 at India Gate with 500 people coming out to support the initiative and will culminate in the city of Chandigarh today.
Industries like Hella, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, FICCI to name a few along with Punjab Police have come out to support the walkathon. Speaking to NDTV, Pallvi Sinha from Hella India Lighting Ltd said, “We believe spreading awareness about road safety is the need of the hour in our country. Through this activity we aim to do just that – from making people aware about why being safe on roads is important to teaching them traffic rules and road signs, we will do it all.”
Also Read: Mumbai Police Aces The Use Of Social Media To Drive Home The Message Of Road Safety
Explaining how the walkathon is being carried, she adds,
The walkathon will see people in pairs walking with a baton, and covering close to 60km each day. The team will take a total of four pit stops – Sonepat, Karnal, Ambala and will finally reach Chandigarh on April 27.
The unique thing about the walkathon is that people walking will also make a continuous video footage in order to capture the loopholes in the infrastructure for pedestrians along the entire 250km stretch.
Our aim is to use these real evidences to build pressure on the authorities and create awareness about the necessity of seamless walking zones for pedestrians in India, signs off Pallvi.
Also Read: Help Reduce Road Accidents Deaths, Nitin Gadkari Appeals To The Corporate World To Play Their Part
In Numbers: Road Accidents in India
According to a Report on Road Accidents in India 2016, published by Transport Research wing under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 17 people die on India’s roads every hour, with Chennai and Delhi being the most dangerous cities.
In total, the country recorded close to 5 lakh (4,80,652) accidents in 2016, leading to over 1.5 lakh (1,50,785) deaths.
