SRINAGAR: Minister for Transport, Satish Sharma, today chaired a meeting to review the functioning of the Transport Department besides JK Road Transport Corporation and State Motor Garages Department here at Civil Secretariat Srinagar.
Minister for Agricultural Production, Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar was also present on the occasion.
Reiterating the commitment of Omar Abdullah-led government towards ensuring ease of business, the Minister directed the department to come up with a proposal to reduce the permit fees to the extent of 50% ie Rs 75000 instead of Rs 150000 to encourage unemployed youth to earn their livelihood.
The Minister instructed to organise monthly medical checkups of drivers of commercial vehicles to keep a check on their fitness for operating their vehicles. He also directed the Road Transport Authority to ensure strict measures during the driving test, while issuing license for heavy vehicles. He emphasised speedy completion of the IDTR Project to ensure proper testing of skill test of driving license applicants.
The Transport Commissioner was directed to increase the presence of RTO/ARTO in the field to check the menace of overloading and overspeeding to avoid road accidents.
Regarding the issue of non-availability of parking slots in the Municipal areas of Jammu/Srinagar for commercial light vehicles, it was decided to take up the matter with the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) to avoid traffic congestion in city areas.
The Transport Minister stressed the need for adopting and incorporating innovative ideas for further improving and streamlining functioning of the Transport Department. He said besides bringing efficiency and transparency in the working of the department, there is a need for providing better and more efficient transport facilities to the public.
Satish Sharma emphasized that the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), State Motor Garages (SMG) and J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) should work in unison to improve and strengthen the public transport system in the state.
Earlier, the Secretary of Transport presented a brief introduction about the Functions of the Department through a PowerPoint Presentation. Threadbare deliberations were held during the meeting regarding various issues including permit fees of commercial light motor vehicles, medical checkups of drivers of commercial vehicles, competition of ITDR in Samba, issuance of licenses, non-availability of parking slots in SMC/JMC, liability of employees etc.
Transport Commissioner J&K, Managing Director JKRTC, Director State Motor Garages Department, Director Finance Transport, Additional Secretary besides RTOs attended the meeting.
