New Delhi, Oct. 4 -- Connaught Place's Inner Circle turned into a lively, people-centric space on Sunday as Raahgiri Day, held in collaboration with Sundays on Cycle, brought together Delhiites for cycling, fitness, sports, music and recreational activities.
The early-morning event temporarily freed the area from vehicular traffic, allowing children, youngsters, senior citizens and families to reclaim the streets for walking, cycling and community activities. The programme included yoga, Zumba, badminton, cricket, folk dance, puppet shows, chalk art, games and fitness sessions.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, New Delhi Municipal Council chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chaudhary and Raahgiri Foundation co-founder Sarika Panda Bhatt flagged off a cycle rally to mark the inauguration.
Sood said Raahgiri was not merely about individual fitness but also about the health and well-being of the city. He said cycling could help reduce air pollution while promoting physical fitness and healthier lifestyles. He added that the Delhi Government was working to develop dedicated cycling tracks and promote cleaner mobility.
Dwivedi said hosting Raahgiri at Connaught Place sent a message about cleaner and safer mobility. He said the participation of young people demonstrated the importance of collective efforts to address pollution and promote sustainable modes of transport.
Chaudhary urged Delhiites to follow traffic rules and avoid practices such as triple riding and driving on the wrong side of the road. He said controlling pollution required both collective and individual responsibility.
The event, themed "Roads are beautiful when they belong to people", also featured a live performance by Euphoria Band at Central Park. The performance drew youngsters who sang and danced along with the music.
The initiative brought together government agencies and civil society organisations, including Delhi Police, DDA, NDMC, Fit India and the Raahgiri Foundation.
The event highlighted the potential of public roads to serve as spaces for recreation, social interaction and healthier urban living beyond their conventional role as traffic corridors.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.