The concept of car pooling , where office-goers travelling by car or motorcycle can choose to go with colleagues or neighbours on the same route to limit the use of vehicles , is set to gain momentum here . Commute Easy , which successfully launched the initiative in Bangalore , Pune and Kolkata is set to bring it to the city .

Already , 300 Chennaiites have registered to find people within a 1km radius whose work timings and route to office match theirs . In Bangalore , where the initiative was launched in 2008, there are about 16,000 registrations .

“Many motorists are looking for similar platforms but such initiatives are yet to become popular in the country when compared to other countries ,” said Commute Easy founder Vipul Kasera of Bangalore .

In Chennai , the response was slow but the support of the city traffic police is essential to help make such initiatives a success, he added . The traffic police , on the other hand , are a bit cautious . “It’s a fact that sharing vehicles will reduce traffic congestion as well as pollution . However , we still don’t have a clear picture about how effective car pooling has been in Bangalore and Kolkata ,” said additional commissioner of police (traffic ) Sanjay Arora.

Others suggested that social networking sites could be used to help make the concept popular . “It’s not just websites. Even residents’ associations can do their bit. They can create car-pooling groups on social networking sites and arrange a vehicle to a common destination . Now-a-days many are available online which are also helpful in tracking their movements ,” said social media expert and CEO of Business Blogging Kiruba Shankar . Many motorists are unhappy at the lack of such networks in the city . “I recently registered with a car pooling network but the response has been poor .

Public transport , especially buses, is always packed and there are no other alternatives than private vehicles ,” said Neerupama Gopalakrishnan , a software engineer who commutes to Ambattur from Adyar . Another commuter , K Rajkumar of Thoraippakkam , said : “It’s time efforts were made to popularize the concept .” Earlier , some residents’ welfare associations had started car pooling ventures on their own but many disappeared after a period.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/-Chennaiites-look-to-car-pooling/articleshow/10749890.cms