Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 22: Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta has called for evolving efficient mechanism to rejuvenate the functioning of all wings of the Transport Department in the State. He stressed the need for appropriate steps to make the department more accountable and people friendly to accomplish its mandate.
Chairing a maiden review meeting of the Transport Department here today, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government is keen to upgrade the infrastructural and other public facilities in this important department to ensure better public delivery system on ground. He directed the concerned for further improving the existing mechanism to reduce the time limit for issuing and renewing the licenses. He also directed for pressing more manpower to facilitate the public and improving the delivery system on ground. He also stressed for creating more public facilities like sitting shelters, drinking water and toilet facilities in the RTO offices at Jammu and Srinagar as the offices are widely visited places.
Minister of State for Transport, Mir Zahoor Ahmed and Vice Chairman, JKSRTC, Haji Parvez Ahmed were also present in the meeting.
Gupta also laid stress on sustained efforts to check the road accidents and finding the root cause of such accidents on various routes, especially in the hilly areas of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. He directed for organizing frequent awareness camps across the State to educate the masses about the road safety norms and traffic rules to avoid the road accidents. Authorities should also monitor the health of vehicles regularly and initiate strict action against the traffic violators.
The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC), which is still a viable mode of transport for large number of people in the State and also catering to the needs of Government Departments like Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs for transporting the essentials at several destinations, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Government will take concrete steps to further revamp its infrastructure and fleet to make this important organization more vibrant and revenue generating source.
He called for constant monitoring of fleet movement and enhancing the services on hungry roads to earn more revenues. He also directed for judicious use of departmental land and called for mooting a proposal for setting up commercial sites on the vacant land situated at various locations to generate revenue. He also directed for exploring possibility to introduce the e-rickshaw service on the viable areas in capital cities for the facilities of commoners.
While reviewing the functioning of State Motor Garages, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed for improving the workshops infrastructure and introducing the computerization of records and its allied functioning to ensure speedy repairs and disposal of government vehicles.
Secretary Transport, M. Raju and Transport Commissioner, Saughat Biswas gave resume of the functioning of the department and initiatives to further improve the health of the department.
Among those present on the occasion included, Secretary Technical, G.A. Sofi, Managing Director, JKSRTC, Afroz Mir, Director State Motor Garages, Zakir Hussain, Additional Secretary, Ashok Kumar Bhagat and other senior officers of the Transport Department, including RTOs, Kashmir, Jammu.
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