Surat: In an effort to save fuel and reduce traffic congestion, textile traders in Surat have decided to adopt carpooling and shared transport arrangements.The initiative was announced by the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association Forum (FOSTTA), which has urged traders commuting to the city’s textile markets to use shared vehicles and alternate transport systems in the larger national interest.A large number of traders travel daily from areas such as City Light, Vesu, Adajan, Parvat Patiya and Dumas Road to the Ring Road and Saroli textile markets, mostly in private vehicles. Under the proposed model, four to six traders from nearby areas can travel together in a single vehicle.FOSTTA has also encouraged traders to coordinate through WhatsApp groups to organise shared travel, particularly those using four-wheelers.“Surat’s textile trade has always played a leading role in national development and social responsibility,” said Kailash Hakim, president, FOSTTA.

