Minister for Transport, Abdul Gani Kohli laid foundation of State Motor Garages Complex at Mari, Reasi. The integrated complex, coming up on 5 kanals of land, will have dedicated office space, workshop and residential accommodation.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that government has initiated several innovative measures to revamp the overall functioning of Transport and its allied departments. He stressed upon the concerned to work with dedication to make the department vibrant and commercially viable.The Minister said two hi-tech Driving Institutes are being established shortly in the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu to provide modern training and other technical know-how regarding driving. “The concerned have been asked to complete the requisite formalities in this regard at the earliest,” he said.
The Minister said that new initiates taken by the government are aimed at providing improved and hassle-free services to the people. He said these initiatives would also go a long way in lessening road accidents especially in hilly areas.Meanwhile, the Minister paid a surprise visit to the Booking Counter of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) at Katra and enquired about the operation schedule of SRTC plying from Katra to other parts of the State and outside.The Minister said it is the responsibility of SRTC employees to make the Corporation profitable by putting in more efforts. He asked SRTC staff to ensure frequent checking of buses on different roads for better returns. “The government would not tolerate any kind of corruption in the Corporation. Any official found in this practice would be dealt with sternly,” the Minister cautioned.Secretary Transport, Syed Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Transport Commissioner, Parveez Iqbal Khateeb, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Shiv Kumar Gupta, Superintendent of Police, Reasi and Director State Motor Garages, Zakir Hussain Choudhary accompanied the Minister.