Several members today took part in the discussion on Demands of Grants for Transport Department in Legislative Assembly.Initiating the discussion, R S Pathania called for proper implementation of Road Safety Action Plan to minimize accidents and for improving the overall infrastructure of the department. He urged the government for taking steps for improving the income generation capacity of the department.Usman Abdul Majid said that during the unrest in Kashmir transporters were worst hit and demanded compensation for their rehabilitation. He also demanded waiver of Token Tax and Passenger Tax of transporters affected by the unrest. He demanded for extensive survey in accident prone areas of the state to minimize the road mishaps. He advocated for streamlining Passenger Welfare Board and for providing proper training to the drivers by involving NGOs.Raja Manzoor Ahmad complemented the department for various initiatives. He demanded SRTC bus services from Karnah to Keran, Srinagar to Tangdhar, Srinagar to Kupwara and various other remote areas of the Valley.
He also called for proper check on drivers and vehicles to avoid road mishaps.Main Altaf Ahmad said there was a need for taking innovative steps to improve the infrastructure of the department to gain the trust of the people. He called for steps for reducing the accident rate and tackling traffic mess in cities. He also demanded improvement of SRTC Bus Services to Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Ladakh for the convenience of public and especially tourists and Yatris.Bashir Ahamd Dar regretted that the department has been ignored by every government and there is need for taking various innovative steps for improving the overall infrastructure of the department. He advocated for implementing the SRO-43 for the welfare of SRTC employees and sought amendments in Motor Vehicle Act to improve the functioning of the department.Neelam Kumar Langeh pitched for separate budget for the transport department. He called for proper maintenance of vehicles provided by Motor Garage Department to the Legislators. He said the vehicles of the legislators should be maintained by the department itself. He also demanded SRTC bus services for Ramban-Jammu, Ramban- Srinagar, Asar-Jammu, Desaghai-Jammu etc.
Choudhary Qamar Hussain demanded SRTC bus service for Kishtwar-Sigdi Bhata, Kishtwar-Kuchaee Scmbol, Kishtwar-Keshwan, Doda-Tanta etc. He said that Road Authority should be made accountable and there should be same parameter for Rajouri as being implemented in other districts. He also demanded for making amendment in Motor Vehicle Act and called for taking measures for Road Safety. He also demanded for expansion of Kishtwar bus stand and water transport services in his constituency.Javid Ahmad Rana called for proper training of drivers adding that most of the accidents take place due to their negligence. He suggested for opening hi-tech training school for training drivers before providing licenses and rout permits. He called for condemnation of old vehicles and providing incentive to the owners. He also called for reorganization of traffic under system Motor Vehicle Act and implementation of Smart Buses to improve the transport services.Jeevan Lal said that there was a need for regular checking of licence of public transport drivers, rout permits, insurance and over loading on various routs to avoid increasing road mishaps in his constituency. He demanded SRTC bus service from Bani to Pathankot and for various other fur flung areas of his constituency. He called for amendment in Motor Vehicle Act.
Abdul Rahim Rather called for removal of old vehicles and implementation of Metro Transport for improving the transport services in the state. He also called for further streamlining of the traffic system and holding refreshment courses for drivers to reduce the traffic mishaps.Anjum Fazili complemented the Minister for initiating the Ladies Special transport Services in the state. She demanded for a provision of Separate budget for transport department. She called for proper implementation of Road Safety Action Plan in the State. She also stressed on providing uninterrupted power supply for proper functioning of traffic lights. She demanded shifting of liquor shops from National Highway as per Supreme Court directions and installation of proper Protection barriers along Hilly and accident prone roads.Vikar Rasool expressed strong concern over increasing accidents in his constituency. He said in last eight months 36 people died and 96 others were injured in Banihal to Ramsu and demanded that government should take concrete steps to minimize road mishaps on this stretch. He demanded for proper arrangement for rescuing accident victims. He also demanded restoration of SRTC bus services on various routs of his constituency.Mohammad Akbar Loan demanded operation of SRTC bus service from Sumbal to Bandipor and Safapora to Sopore. He complemented the Minister for making online license service. He also demanded budgetary support for the department and regularization of daily wagers and casual labour working in the department.
Noor Muhammad Sheikh said that government should lay special focus on loss of transporters during unrest. He said also demanded installation of more traffic lights across Srinagar city. He said that the government should take steps to improve the services provided through transport department. Ishfaq Jabbar said that State Road Transportation (SRTC) is facing official neglect and Government should take measures to revive this department with new and reformative measures. He said that the fleet of the corporation is outdated and needs to be replaced. Calling for adding new buses to its fleet, he suggested installing GPS in all busses of the corporation. Rajiv Jasrotia lauded the Government for successfully organising traffic awareness week across the State with innovative messages. He said that Government should refurbish a new idea of launching driving institutes.Terming Kathua as gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, he called upon Transport Department to launch new schemes to make this district attractive for the tourists coming to the state. Aijaz Ahmad Mir hailed Government for introducing pro-people policies in Transport Department. He pleaded for strengthening public transport and making SRTC profitable.Pawan Kumar Gupta said that Government should revive SRTC and strengthen the corporation at all levels.Abdul Majeed Larmi called for providing single-window services by the Transport Department and also makes sure that people get better services. He said that Government should bring transparency with result oriented goals.