Recently inducted into the State cabinet, the State’s transport and Mining Minister Navprabhat chaired his first meeting to review the condition of the transport department here on Monday. The minister discussed in detail, the possibility of reducing the registrating fee on vehicles which in his opinion, would result in more receipt of value added tax and help increase the revenue income of the department.
Addressing officials, the minister directed the transport secretary to undertake a campaign to fill the posts lying vacant in the department as part of measures to enable strengthening of the department. He also discussed various aspects in detail for further development of the public transport system and the efficiency in its services across the state.
Navprabhat directed the official concerned to organise a meeting in the near future of the minister with all the regional transport officers and assistant regional transport officers of the state. The minister opined that the inclusion of public transport vehicles including the Vikram tempos, Tata Magic and utility vehicles among others has brought about a major change in the traffic situation.
However, this change has not been addressed by necessary amendments in the transport rules and manual which is an issue that requires serious consideration. Citing this, the minister directed the transport department officials concerned to prepare a concrete proposal for amendment in the rules and manual of the department with focus also on the local unemployed persons.
Considering the increasing load of travelers in the state, the transport department also needs to function on the lines of tour and travels enterprises which will not only help make employment opportunities conveniently accessible to the unemployed youth but will also bring about an improvement in the economy of the local residents.
The transport department needs to function in a planned manner with consideration for providing intended benefit to the local populace. Navprabhat further stressed on the need for facilitating capacity building for linking the local youth with the transportation business.
He also discussed in detail the various aspects and probabilities for provision of employment opportunities for the youth languishing without employment. He emphasized that as in the case of other States, vehicle entry fee should be consolidated into a better source of revenue generation.
He directed officials to work towards further improvement in the process of entry fee collection with the use of latest technical aids including modern solutions, closed circuit television cameras among other aspects at the toll collection booths.
Officials were also directed to draft proposal for enabling as much relief as possible to the road accident affected persons from the accident relief fund. The minister directed the officials to prepare the proposal needed for increasing the ex-gratia amount of `50,000 to `one lakh per family in the case of death in bus accident, the assistance money for seriously injured from `20,000 to `50,000 and `5,000 to `10,000 in case of those with minor injuries.
On being asked by the minister, additional commissioner of transport, Sunita Singh informed that a sum of `26 crore is available at present in the accident relief fund out of which a sum of about `10 crore has been distributed among the affected till date. The minister sought district-wise detail regarding the distribution made from the fund.