With a view to strengthen rural connectivity the state government has decided to run busses in 108 scheduled blocks in 12 districts. Each scheduled block will be provided with 8 to 10 buses under the Rural Transport Connectivity Scheme, said G Mathivathanan, commissioner cum secretary, department of transport and commerce.
Speaking at the concluding day of the 25th Road Safety Week-2014, Mathivathanan said at the current stage of development in terms of economic growth we need to enhance the public transport facility in rural areas. So at the first phase the government has decided to run nearly 1000 buses in 108 scheduled blocks in 12 districts in the state.
“The bus service in rural areas will be implemented through public private partnership (PPP) mode. The private company will procure the buses with their own and the state government will bear 5 percent cost of the bank loan needed for this purpose. Theese buses will be free from paying road taxes and permit fees for five years,” said Mathivathanan.
Unlike the conventional buses these will have 15 to 20 seated. Within one or two months the private company will start the process of procurement, he added.
This bus service is expected to start before end of April this year and the buses will have , sources in transport department said.
Mathivathanan also said the government also chalked out plan to improve public transport system at the naxal affected districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, Phulbani.
“Out target is to ply at least 100 buses in the naxal dominated districts, which is a long standing demand of the denizens there. For the procurement of buses, which would be large in structure the government has sanctioned Rs 21 crore to Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC),” said Mathivathanan.
OSRTC which is usually runs buses between long destinations this time it will provide the service for short distances. The naxal red affected districts will receive this service this year.
Speaking on this occasion chief minister Naveen Pattnaik said the state government is keen to curb the road accidents, which is highest in the country. In 2012 around 3700 people lost their lives to 9,285 road accident cases. About 10,700 people sustained injuries in this number of accidents. The government has suffered Rs 6.67 crores due to the loss of 3700 lives.
“We are taking every possible steps to curb the number of road accidents in the state. RTOs are expected to provide sketch carriage system for the easy availability of route permit before March 2014. People can pay the road tax for more than Rs 2000 through online. Also the transport department is initiated awareness camps at several districts,” said Pattnaik.
No comments:
Post a Comment