India, UK launch clean air street initiative in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 7 : India and the United Kingdom (UK) have come together to launch a clean air street initiative at Church Street here on Saturday to jointly address the global challenges of air pollution and climate change.
The initiative launched by the UK Catapult Network and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Karnataka, will help transform Church Street in Bengaluru into a green haven for pedestrians by banning traffic movement on every weekend from this week onwards for the next three months.
“This is done in an effort to demonstrate innovative ways of combating air pollution,” DULT commissioner V. Manjula said and added that this was an opportunity to prove that targeted activities to reduce motor vehicle traffic can help reduce pollution, improve the quality of life and be beneficial to local businesses.
She said that the clean air street initiative is a part of the wider Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA) programme that is being rolled out in phases across Bengaluru.
Businesses especially restaurants on this street will be allowed to extend their seating outdoors temporarily, in line with social distancing norms, thereby encouraging patrons to stay safe whilst enjoying cleaner air.
Church Street will remain closed to motor vehicles between 12 p.m. on Saturday and 12 a.m. on Sunday from November 7, 2020 to February 2021.