Asking for undertaking major reforms in the urban mobility sector, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today asked for a synergised approach by Transport Department, Traffic Police and Municipal authorities to improve the traffic management system in the State.Chairing a review meeting of the Transport Department here today, the Chief Minister directed adoption of a twin approach of ultra-modern public transport facility coupled with strict implementation of traffic laws to ensure that the desired results in this regard are achieved.Minister of State for Transport, Sunil Sharma was present in the meeting.The Chief Minister asked for clearly delineating the inter and intra district transport facilities for which she suggested use of colour coding scheme. She asked for improving the condition of footpaths and clearing these from the encroachments so that a free pedestrian path is ensured along roads.Mehbooba Mufti directed procurement of zero pollution low floor buses so that these become a preferred and convenient choice for the commuters. She also asked for developing bus bays for stoppage and pick and drop of passengers without any disruption on the traffic movement.
The Chief Minister directed strict enforcement of traffic laws to prevent accidents. She specifically directed ensuring use of helmets by the bikers while driving and crackdown against rash driving and those who do not possess licenses. She also directed to enforce use of parking slots by the drivers rather than parking on the roads. For this, she asked Traffic Police to undertake an intense awareness campaign.Mehbooba Mufti was informed that the Department is on the path of achieving cashless transactions and a large number of Departmental services have been made online, thereby removing any chances of corruption. The registration numbers would soon be given through vehicle dealers and Traffic Police would also start challaning the erring drivers through online mode. Moreover, 72 traffic junctions are being improved and provided with intelligent traffic lights system, the meeting was informed.
The meeting was told that 72454 vehicles were registered by the Department last year and at present there are 14, 88190 vehicles registered with the Department. There are 70 driving schools running in Jammu and 57 in Kashmir province and for their technical audit, training of their trainers and preparation of driving manual matter has been taken up with IIT. Besides, an Inspection and Certification Centre is being developed at Jammu, the meeting was informed.Chief Secretary, B B Vyas; Vice Chairman, JKSRTC Haji Pervaiz Ahmad; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Commissioner-Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Hridesh Kumar; Commissioner Secretary, Public Works Department, Sanjeev Kumar; Commissioner Secretary, transport Department, Hemant Kumar Sharma; IGP, traffic, Jagjit Kumar; Transport Commissioner, Sougat Biswas and other senior officers were present in the meeting.