Interests of employees and people are of paramount importance: Haryana Transport Minister

Chandigarh, April 11, 2017: The Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Lal Panwar, has said that the interests of employees of the department and the people of the state are of paramount importance for the state government which is always ready to hold talks with employees unions.
Interacting with media persons after a meeting with various employees unions, here today, he said they were objecting to the policy dated February 17, 2017. Presently, 853 private buses are being operated on 273 routes and all operators have got their permits made afresh. Priority was given to those who were already operating buses. These included 80 per cent old permit holders and routes. Apart from this, 1,669 other applications were received. No new route has been assigned to anyone. The employees' unions did not have any objection to the 853 permits which have already been issued.
Referring to the new Transport Policy, he said the matter was pending in the court and hearing would be held on April 20. The decision of the court would be followed in letter and spirit, he added. Mr Panwar directed that GPS systems should be installed immediately in all private buses. Once it is done if any permit holder changes his route, his security deposit of Rs 1 lakh would be forfeited. The permit holders would have to allow persons belonging to 39 categories who have been granted the facility of free or discounted travel in the state roadways buses. If any bus operator denies them travel in his bus, his permit would be cancelled, he added.
Asked about the timings of the buses on different routes, the Transport Minister said it would be decided jointly by the General Manager and Secretary, Regional Transport Authority concerned. Mr. Panwar said that presently there were about 4,200 buses in the fleet of the state transport. Besides, 600 new buses are being included out of which 300 have been purchased and approval has been given for the purchase for 300 more. It has been decided to include 400 new buses in the fleet of Haryana Roadways this year. Thus, in all, 1,000 buses would be included in the fleet of state roadways this year, he added.