Reiterating his Government’s commitment towards providing better transport facility to passengers, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that road safety should be a part of curriculum as hundreds of innocent lives were lost due to accidents. Yogi was speaking at a function where Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) signed an MoU with its Rajasthan counterpart to run government buses on 199 routes between the two states. The MoU was signed between UP Transport minister Swantra Deo Singh and Rajasthan Transport minister Yunus Khan in lucknow.
“Journeys are indicator of progress. Better roads mean better connectivity and this connectivity brings two cultures closer. But these journeys should be safe. Many lives are lost in road accidents. Road safety should be made a part of curriculum and a proposal for this should come from Transport department,” the Chief Minister said.
Ygoi said that signing of MoU between Transport departments of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh would strengthen cultural bonds between the two states.
“The land of Mewar always beckons Uttar Pradesh – the region knows for its religious importance – and it is a historical fact that people from Rajasthan visit places like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Allahabad and Mathura. This new agreement will pave way for their easy and comfortable journey,” the CM said. The agreement will allow both states to run their buses on 199 routes covering 56,000 kilometres with connecting cities likes Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Haridwar, Meerut, Bikaner, Ganganagar, Jodhpur, Udaypur, Jodhpur, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Sambhal, Allahabad, Sawai Madhopur, Alwar and Kannauj.
A similar agreement was earlier signed in 2005 but the then government failed to implement it. “It is not just a transport agreement but an agreement to connect culture and development of both states. It is unfortunate that the agreement was delayed due to which the people of both statess had to suffer,” Yogi said while announcing to set up a council with Rajasthan to develop tourist potential in Braj Region of Uttar Pradesh.
Yogi Adityanath also announced that his Government would increase the number of buses for rural areas now. “Efforts would be made to have more buses between UP and Nepal,” the Chief Minister added.
Yogi said that after Narendra Modi came to power all the states are united and the development was seen as the only criterion for mutual understanding.
Rajasthan Transport minister said that his state has been trying for the agreement for last three years. He said that this agreement would help tourists of both the states.
UP Transport minister Swatantra Deo Singh said that the agreement would be a move for expansion of the UPSRTC.