Employee database to help promote public transport

Car-Free Days in Gurgaon are well into the ninth week. Participating corporate houses are now coming together to think of a sustainable solution to address the city’s traffic woes. Three companies — Nagarro, Snapdeal and Incedo — have come forward to prepare an open database for all companies in the city with commuting details of their employees to promote public transport, cycling and car-pooling.

A press conference was called at the Nagaaro office on Tuesday. It was attended by Gurgaon Police Commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk, Manas Fuloria of Nagarro, Saurabh Nigam from Snapdeal, Amit Sarin from Incedo, Deepanshu Malviya from Shuttl and representatives from Meribus, Orient, O Rahi, Sapient, Embarq and NASSCOM.

Mr. Fuloria stressed on the need for companies to work together for a transport solution that is sustainable. He drew attention to the fact that almost every person in Delhi has a car and it is futile to build roads and flyovers to accommodate all of them. He stated that the three companies, Nagarro, Snapdeal and Incedo will work to develop an open database for all companies in the city so that viable services can be planned according to demand.

Mr. Nigam from Snapdeal which employs about 4,500 people in the city mentioned that a joint collaborative attempt at a public bus service was the news of the hour. He stated that to maintain a work-life balance, it should be ensured that employees spend as little time travelling and more working and with family. Snapdeal has installed bicycle stands at both their campuses.

Mr. Sarin clarified that within two or three weeks, about 100-200 cars would be reduced in the three companies. He clarified that a transport hub would be created with the three companies which would then ply buses according to the travel data available of these companies in the open database. There would be 15-18 buses from East and West Delhi from 7-30 a.m.

Empirical studies show that every metre of increased width of roads will take only about 3-4 years to fill with cars. Globally, no city has solved congestion with flyovers and widening roads. Cities like London, New York, Singapore have tackled the situation by restricting cars and managing parking, said Mr. Sarin.