news details |
|
|
| End massacre on roads , overhaul transport policy : Transporters to Govt | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 16- Reacting to the measures proposed by the government in curbing road accidents in hilly regions of Jammu province, the transporters with decades of experiences and heavy stakes in the sector have observed that nothing is going to change on the ground without a complete overhaul of the transport policy.
In view of rising number of accidents in Doda and Kishtwar districts and the situation in Rajouri and Poonch districts being not much different, the Jammu-Poonch Bus Service Association in an emergent meeting chaired by its president Bharat Bhushan Gupta decided to make a fresh plea to the government for overhauling the transport policy as the only possible measure to prevent killings of innocent civilians in the road accidents. Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon, MoS Shabir Ahmed Khan and Transport Secretary KB Jandyal, they regretted that no follow up was initiated by the Transport Department on the decisions taken at a high level meeting convened by CM with transporters on July 10 in Srinagar. Bharat Bhushan Gupta said that the transporters have always vowed to play their role in ensuring safety on the roads but the agencies of the government, particularly the Transport department are not forthcoming. He regretted that the government has its own contributions in accidents as Letters of Authority or Route Permits for the only viable passenger vehicle model 1613 for the hilly roads are not being given. He said that since model number 1510 is out of production and model 1613 remains the only viable option with 166 Inch Wheel Base but for unknown reasons the Transport Department is not giving LA or Permits. He said that 189 Permits are ready with the Transport Department but they are not being issued. He pointed out that the transporters have already offered their services to minimize passenger pressure on the existing transport infrastructure on roads and thus to curb the accidents but the faulty permit system and corruption in the department is to be blamed. He requested the Chief Minister to pass on directions that pending Route Permits may be issued urgently to the transports.
As far as government’s measure of enhancing the permit limit from existing 25 kilometers to 70 kilometers for mini buses on the hilly roads is concerned this will lead to more accidents instead of minimizing the rate of killings on the roads. He described this measure as ill conceived and pointed out that the hilly roads need robust buses with defined routes so that there is no overloading.
Referring to the rampant violations by the stage carriage permit holders, Gupta pointed out that in connivance with the officials of Transport Department, a parallel transport authority is running on the roads of hilly areas putting the life of innocent passengers to grave risk. He urged the CM and the Transport Minister to immediately convene a meeting with the transporters to take on board ground inputs for overhauling the transport policy so that the rampant killings on the roads can be put to an end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
