With car ridership set to boom by 106 per cent, Delhi's air pollution and congestion crisis is bound to worsen, warns a survey by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Calling for transport planning that hinges on sustainability, equity, and a people-centric approach, the CSE survey, released on World Environment Day on June 5, said unless this was done, rising carbon dioxide emission from personal vehicles cannot be controlled.

“It is shocking that cars and SUVs together contribute 45 per cent, close to half of the total, CO 2 load from all vehicles. This will be a stunning 52 per cent by 2021,” it said.

The survey said bus ridership had already dropped from 60 per cent in 2000 to 40 per cent now. With each bus trip lost to cars and two-wheelers, pollution and health costs will worsen. With bus ridership expected to slide further to 36 per cent, how will Delhi meet the Master Plan target of 80 per cent public transport ridership by 2020?, it asked.

CSE's analysis of official air quality data shows that ozone, the new predator in town, had exceeded standards on all days in May and most days in April this year in areas such as Civil Lines and Airport and on 80 per cent days in residential colonies such as R K Puram. It is a serious problem during summer when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react under the influence of sunlight and high temperature to form ozone, it said.

Pitching for a transport policy that encourages walking and cycling, the CSE survey said roads need to factor in the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

>aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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