Tuesday, 20 June 2023 | PNS | DEHARDUN
Will ask RTA to make guidelines for operation of clean fuel vehicles to minimise pollution in 3 cities
In order to streamline the public transport system in the city, the regional transport office (RTO) of Dehradun is considering granting stage carriage permits to old city buses too. These permits are presently issued only to new buses. With this plan, the number of city buses is expected to increase on several routes while also minimising the number of private vehicles of locals resulting in minimum traffic congestion and pollution in the city. The RTO will present the proposal suggesting this plan in the meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Tuesday, said Shailesh Tiwari, the regional transport officer (enforcement) of the Dehradun division. He said that as per the present guidelines, the RTO grants stage carriage permits only to the operators of new buses that cost them three to four times more than buying an old bus. Considering this as one of the potential causes of the declining number of buses in the city, RTO will present a proposal regarding the same and discuss it with other officials concerned in the meeting, said Tiwari. He said that the main issues in the RTA meeting will be associated with strengthening the local public transport system and what steps can be taken to ensure each section of public transport, whether its city buses, three-wheelers and mini buses, complement one another to streamline public transport. He said that it will also be discussed what steps should be taken to ensure over 400 Vikram operators in the city operate clean fuel vehicles like CNG fuelled vehicles, electric vehicles, and electric hybrid vehicles or BS-VI vehicles.
He said, “We had 790 Vikrams operating in the city out of which, 300 operators have already started operating BS VI vehicles- mini buses, on various routes. There are nearly 430 remaining Vikram operators that are yet to start operating clean fuel vehicles citing several reasons. This matter will also be discussed on Tuesday.” He also informed that a proposal to form guidelines to ensure the operation of clean fuel vehicles in Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar as part of pollution control practices will also be introduced in the meeting. “We will also discuss strategies to minimise traffic congestion in Dehradun and improve public transport services in semi-urban areas.
A discussion on determining the maximum speed of vehicles operating in the mountainous areas of Dehradun and Tehri districts will also be held,” said Tiwari. Officials will also discuss granting permits to small four-wheeler vehicles to operate on MDDA- Dalanwala- Dwarika Store- Tehsil Chowk- Railway Station- ISBT- Daant Kali Temple route and take a decision accordingly. Besides this, the RTO will also propose to start efficient public transport services for locals of Balwala Mandal, Doiwala Vidhan Sabha, Nathuwala and Shamshergarh among others and RTA will take decisions accordingly, said Tiwari. “Several positive decisions are expected to be taken in the RTA meeting which will help RTO’s plan to strengthen and streamline public transport in the division,” he added.
