CM holds review meeting with Transport Department officers
CM issues strict directives on road safety; scientific studies to identify causes of road accidents
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
In a significant move to strengthen the safety of women and children in the state, the Haryana Government has decided to equip all public transport vehicles in the state with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD). This decision was taken during a review meeting of the Transport Department held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister, Krishan Lal Panwar was also present.
The Chief Minister directed officers to implement the scheme in a time-bound manner and set clear timelines. He emphasized that department-wise or district-wise targets should be set to ensure timely completion. He further directed integration of this system with the emergency response service 112. This initiative is expected to be a milestone in establishing a safe transport system for women in the state.
The Chief Minister was apprised that the VLTD system has been developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, under the Nirbhaya Framework. Its objective is to make the public transport system secure, transparent, and technologically enabled, offering real-time location data and emergency alert features. The Chief Minister also reviews budget announcements and directed fast-tracking of the execution of these announcements.
*CM gives strict directions for road safety; scientific analysis to identify causes of accidents*
Expressing concern over road accidents, the Chief Minister gave clear directions for conducting scientific studies to identify the causes. He directed a thorough investigation of each accident, including road conditions, overspeeding, stray animals, or any other possible factors, so that those shortcomings can be addressed to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Chief Minister also gave specific directions to monitor the fitness of school transport vehicles. He stated that all school buses must undergo regular inspections, with attention paid to their technical condition. A meeting with school transport operators should be called soon, where they must be given clear guidelines, and after a fixed timeline, non-compliance should result in challans and vehicle seizure. Children’s safety is our responsibility, he said.
He also directed that roadways drivers be required to submit medical certificates at regular intervals. This step is aimed at prioritizing both passenger safety and drivers’ health.
*Alternate options to reduce revenue deficit to be explored*
To address the challenge of revenue deficit, the Chief Minister directed officers to explore various innovations and commercial possibilities. He suggested evaluating alternatives such as advertising on buses, parcel transportation, and establishing bus stands under the PPP model. Additionally, options for providing online bus booking to tourist destinations should be explored. He also directed that the number of AC buses and their routes should be increased for public convenience.
*City bus services, CM reviews expansion and directs increase in electric buses*
The Chief Minister, while reviewing the city bus service, directed an increase in the number of electric buses, along with the establishment of charging stations. It was informed in the meeting that the procurement process for 375 electric buses under the City Bus Service Scheme is underway. Additionally, under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, action is being expedited for the purchase of 250 more electric buses. Currently, city bus services are operational in 9 cities.
It was also informed in the meeting that the state is focusing on the establishment and expansion of driver training and research institutes (ITDRs) equipped with modern facilities to strengthen road safety. These institutes aim to promote safe driving practices, train professional drivers, and encourage research related to traffic management.
Presently, 4 ITDRs are operational in Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, Kaithal, and Karnal. Furthermore, 3 new ITDRs are under development in Nuh, Faridabad, and Bhiwani. In addition, the establishment of a Regional Driver Training Centre (RDTC) in Gurugram is being fast-tracked.
It was also informed that under the registered vehicle scrapping facility, 20 licenses have been issued in the state, of which 8 scrapping centers are operational. The process for establishing Automated Testing Stations is also underway. From April 1, 2025, fitness testing of all transport vehicles will be conducted only through Automated Testing Stations, as per guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. The Pasco Automated Vehicle Fitness Center in Gurugram has been issued a registration certificate.