Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday signed a Reciprocal Transport Agreement which will facilitate buses of both the States to operate over 1.16 lakh km daily in each other’s territory.
The agreement was signed coinciding the inauguration of the 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad.
Manohar lal described it as an important day for the people of both the states as they share a long border. He said the plying of buses under this agreement between both the states would immensely facilitate the people living in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The chief minister said that the border of Haryana along with UP ranges from Paonta Sahib to Hodal-Kosi in South Haryana. This transport agreement with neighbouring State will also facilitate economic activity as well as easy access to traffic.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that after formation of new government in the state, similar proposals for transportation in several states have been considered and such agreements have also been made with Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
He said western UP and Haryana are no different from anywhere, and both the states are have association for thousands of years. "lord Krishna was born in Uttar Pradesh; he delivered the holy message of Gita in Haryana," he said, adding that Haryana residents will get the opportunity to visit various places at Ayodhya, Kashi, Gorakhpur, Mathura, etc. in UP while passing through the state. He said they can they can also go to Pashupatinath in Nepal and Ganga Sagar.
Uttar Pradesh is the ‘Theme State’ of the Mela this year. The agreement has been inked between both the states after 35 years to cater the increasing demand of transport operations.
Under this Agreement, while 423 buses of Haryana will operate 66,420 kms daily in UP covering 256 routes, 522 buses of UP government will be able to operate 50,034 km daily on similar number of routes.
As per previous agreement, buses of Haryana was operating 10,362 kms daily in the territory of UP and likewise UP was operating 8,116 kms daily in territory of Haryana.
Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, R.R. Jowel signed on behalf of the Haryana Government whereas the same was signed by Principal Secretary, Transport Aradhana Shukla on behalf of UP. The Reciprocal Transport Agreement would provide convenient transport facilities to people of both the states because of a substantial increase in demand for transport operations.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Pal Gujjar, Haryana Transport Minister, Krishan lal Panwar, Education Minister, Ram Bilas Sharma, Urban local Bodies Minister, Kavita Jain, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Kumar Bedi, were also amongst those present on the inaugural occasion.