By Sajila Saseendran www.khaleejtimes.com
Over a dozen government entities are joining Dubai Municipality in this year’s Car-free Day that will be observed on January 18.
Announcing this at a press conference on Wednesday, Director General of DM Hussain Nasser Lootah said 13 government offices and ministries, mostly located along the Dubai Metro line are joining the civic body in its annual initiative on its third anniversary.
‘We are expecting at least 3,000 people to leave their cars at home and use mass transport like the Metro and buses to work,’ he said.
Director of Environment Department Hamdan Khalifa Al Shaer said this year’s Car-Free Day is expected to cut carbon emissions by 10.5 tonne in Dubai.
More than 1 million vehicles are registered in Dubai and the carbondioxide emission from the transportation sector contributed to 47 percent of the air pollutants in the emirate in 2010. Last year’s initiative saved the environment from 4.2 tonnes of CO2 emission.
The Municipality will close its parking lots and senior officials and employees of participating entities will board the Metro and buses on Wednesday, leaving their cars back home. More info
