In the face of rising air pollution and traffic chaos in India’s cities, one entrepreneur has taken an innovative, people-powered approach. Rajiv Arora, a Delhi-NCR founder, launched GreenCar, India’s largest not-for-profit carpool platform aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and transforming everyday commuting into an act of environmental responsibility. GreenCar isn’t about electric fleets or new transport infrastructure; rather, it harnesses the power of shared rides to cut down single-occupancy vehicles on busy roads, thereby lowering pollution and easing congestion.

Started in 2014 and sustained through CSR funding and public donations, GreenCar functions like a community movement — a technical yet accessible platform that connects people who want to share journeys rather than drive alone. The service defines three user types — seekers, poolers and flexible commuters — to match people with compatible routes and schedules, making carpooling comfortable, social and practical. A lifetime-free app ensures that sustainability isn’t a premium feature but a shared public good.

Arora’s motivation came from a personal health scare when Delhi’s smog severely affected his father’s lungs, prompting him to act beyond advocacy and build a scalable solution rooted in everyday behaviour change. GreenCar’s model shows how simple shifts in commuting culture can aggregate into measurable environmental impact, encouraging individuals and organisations alike to prioritise cleaner, shared mobility. The platform is also inviting corporate partnerships to integrate carpooling into broader sustainability or ESG goals, aiming to significantly reduce urban emissions across major Indian cities.