- 250 new buses to be added into the fleet of HRTC
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the Transport Department should work for automation of various services of the department to ensure effective and time bound services to the people besides decreasing the footfall in the office. He was presiding over the review meeting of Transport Department here today.
Chief Minister said that although the government had decided to allow the plying of buses with 100 percent occupancy but proper social distancing and use of masks would be ensured. He said that proper sanitization of buses and bus stands must also be ensured. He said that safety protocol should be followed by the drivers, conductors and passengers.
Jai Ram Thakur said that in order to provide people centric services, e-Parivahan Vyvastha would be launched on pilot basis in the State. He said that on success of this project, it would be implemented throughout the State. He said that under this initiative the people would be provided various services such as renewal of permits, automation of driving licenses and registration certificates related activities, pre paid taxi management etc. He said that this would facilitate the people in providing smart hassle free transport services to the citizens.
Chief Minister said that the department also envisages to take various initiatives to enhance the safety of women and girl children by equipping all the public transportation vehicles with location tracking devices. He said that this would help in effective tracking of vehicles. He said that Transport Department has received Rs. 5.49 crore from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India for setting up of Command and Control System. He said that this system would be set up by end of this year.
Jai Ram Thakur said that a Transport Nagar would be established at Hamirpur. He said that this centre would have various facilities such as driving test track, driving training centres, traffic park and vehicle maintenance park etc. He said that drive testing and training in this Nagar would be managed by Original Equipment Manufacturers.
Chief Minister said that possibility should also be explored for encouraging inland water transport in the State. He said that feasibility report in respect of three reservoirs viz. Govind Sagar, Kol Dam and Chamera have been conducted. He said that DPR of Tatapani-Kasol-Salapar waterway has been prepared and efforts should be made to start plying of jetties on these waterways.
He directed the officers to ensure time bound completion of various bus stands to facilitate the commuters.
Jai Ram Thakur said that 250 new buses would be added into the fleet of HRTC which include 100 electric buses. He said that presently 50 electric buses were plying in Shimla town and 25 electric buses were plying in Manali area.
Transport Minister Govind Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for evincing keen interest in moderation of Transport Department. He said that being a hilly state the road transport was life line for transportation. He said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, state transport has laid a major role in providing services to the people of the State in bringing the persons stranded in various parts of the country.
Principal Secretary Transport K.K. Pant welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various activities of the Department.
Managing Director HRTC Yunus and Director Transport J.M. Pathania made presentations on the occasion.
Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Principal Secretary Finance Prabodh Saxena, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. R.N. Batta, Secretary Sandeep Bhatnagar and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
