CHANDIGARH : In a move aimed at breaking the existing monopoly in the transport system, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has mooted an open-door policy for bus permits, except on national highway routes, while directing the Transport Department to allocate certain bus routes for youth in order to facilitate employment generation.Taking forward his government’s agenda to reform the beleaguered transport system in the state and free it from the monopolistic shackles created by the previous government, the Chief Minister suggested rationalisation of inter-state routes to make them more competitive. This, he said, would also ensure better service and more cost-effectiveness for the consumers.Chairing a preliminary meeting of the Transport department to draft the new transport policy, the Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to explore the modalities for interstate route rationalisation.It was decided at the meeting to go for e-tendering on lucrative routes to make the business more viable and profitable, while providing a level-playing field for all players.
The draft policy, being prepared by the department, will be put before the state cabinet for approval soon, according to an official spokesperson, who said the policy was being aligned to the directives and observations of the Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court.The policy is being drafted after taking views of Private Bus Operators, Mini Bus Operators, Officers from the STUs, Officers from the Road Transport Authority and Unions of the STU Staff.In another step to eliminate the transport mafia, the Chief Minister suggested permits to have registration numbers of buses mentioned thereon for plying. He also suggested that GPS systems should be installed in all buses to ensure their effective tracking in order to prevent misuse of permits, which incidentally was rampant during the previous regime