Dehradun:- Finance Minister Indira Hridyesh on Tuesday said that a concrete proposal would be made on the model of Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh to establish a better and efficient transport service in the state.
Ms Hridyesh was chairing a meeting in her office here to discuss the ways and means to make the transport system better and safe in the state, especially in the hill regions, including purchase of new buses for Uttarakhand Parivahan Nigam (Uttarakhand Transport Corporation).
Ms Hridyesh stressed that the old and run-down buses should be immediately removed from the fleet and replaced by new buses to curb the incidence of mishaps caused due to faulty vehicles.
Speaking at the meeting, Transport Minister Surendra Rakesh referred to his recent visit to Australia and stressed that like in Australia, Uttarakhand must also provide transport at hill regions as essential service for the public welfare, irrespective of whether it was running in loss or profit.
He said that 600 buses were needed to provide smooth services in hill areas. At present the state transport corporation has a fleet of 1127 buses out of which 473 were being run in hills and 654 buses were plying in plains.
He said that in 2011-12 the Corporation earned Rs 264.74 crore while the expenditure was Rs 289.94 crore and expected that the Rs 25 crore annual loss incurred to run the buses in hill region should be borne by the state government.
He said that in 2011-12 the Corporation earned Rs 264.74 crore while the expenditure was Rs 289.94 crore and expected that the Rs 25 crore annual loss incurred to run the buses in hill region should be borne by the state government.
Secretary Transport, Umakant Panwar briefed the meeting regarding the strategy to minimize the losses of the Corporation. The meeting also discussed the possibility of the state government helping the Corporation to overcome its losses and also bearing the expense of purchase of new buses.
Finance Minister Hridyesh directed the officials concerned to make a proposal based on the suggestions made in the meeting.
A number of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation officials, including Managing Director MC Upreti were present in the meeting.
Finance Minister Hridyesh directed the officials concerned to make a proposal based on the suggestions made in the meeting.
A number of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation officials, including Managing Director MC Upreti were present in the meeting.