Minister for Transport Abdul Ghani Kohli has said that government is revisiting the State Transport Policy with the aim to create a robust transportation system ensuring accessible transportation to the public in every nook and corner in the state. He said this during his visit to Lakhanpur in Kathua today.While reviewing the implementation of the instructions given earlier to the Motor Vehicle Department, Kathua, the Minister said government has taken the stance to observe zero tolerance towards the practice of overloading. He said the drive against the overloading has shown results and Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) has collected record revenue in the shape of penalty on erring transporters. He said more such steps will be taken in coming times to discourage the defaulters. He also instructed the Deputy Commissioner Excise and RTO Kathua to be vigilant against the practice of transshipment of overloaded goods by the truckers (i.e. ‘Palti system’) and further directed that “Palti System” should be carved by the administration in coordination with all the concerned departments.
Mr. Kohli said that the state government is reviewing the bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with other states under which the exemption of Entry Tax on reciprocate basis is provisioned for the visiting State Transport Undertaking buses. But it has been now observed that the STU’s buses of other states are far exceeding in number when compared to the number of buses of our state transport buses visiting these states and as are mentioned in MOU with other states, resulting loss of state exchequer.He further instructed Deputy General Manager, SRTC, RTO Kathua and DC Excise Lakhanpur to prepare a detail report regarding the total number of STU’s buses of other state visiting Jammu and Kashmir for further reviewing and rationalizing the MOU with other states.He also added that the present route permits system will also be relooked so that focus on giving accessible and route specific transport shall be achieved to cover the wider state map.
The Minister said government will soon induct a fleet of luxury buses in SRTC to facilitate tourists. Regarding the Kathua Inter-State bus stand the minister said the work is going on and will be dedicated to people very soon.During his visit the minister also received appraisal of the staff strength at Lakhanpur Toll Plaza-cum-Check Post and assured that the deficiency of staff will be meted out at the earliest. He directed DC Excise to submit the estimate of necessary infrastructure and repair at toll plaza for necessary approval.DC Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal, RTO Jammu, A. K. Khajuria, RTO Kathua, ARTO Kathua accompanied the minister during the visit. Later, the Minister also paid a visit to Yatri Bhawan, Jammu and inspected the various arrangements made for Shri Amarnathji Yatris. He expressed satisfaction about the arrangements by the administration and also directed that all departments should work in synergy to provide best possible facilities to the yatris. During the visit, RTO Jammu I/C Officer, Base Camp, Yatri Bhawan, Sandish Kumar Gupta and Tourist Officer along with other officer and officials were also present.