Emphasizing financial sustainability and improved public outreach, Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad has directed the CTU and the Chandigarh City Bus Services Society to optimise routes, improve operational efficiency and further strengthen commuter-friendly services to maximise public convenience and transport accessibility.
The Chief Secretary today reviewed the functioning of the Transport Department, Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and State Transport Authority (STA), with emphasis on strengthening public transport services, expansion of the e-bus fleet and improving road safety mechanisms in the city.
Reviewing the functioning of the STA, the Chief Secretary stressed strict monitoring and implementation of the “Safe Transportation Policy for Students” (STRAPS) to ensure safety of schoolchildren. He also directed early resolution of issues related to panic alert integration with ERSS-112 in coordination with the Chandigarh Police.
The Chief Secretary also directed the department to create public awareness regarding registered vehicle scrapping facilities and appealed to vehicle owners to get old vehicles scrapped only at authorised centres to avail of incentives being provided by the Administration. Directions were also issued to curb illegal roadside scrapping activities in coordination with the departments concerned.
Reviewing infrastructure-related initiatives, the Chief Secretary directed expeditious operationalisation of the automated inspection and fitness certification centre to enhance transparency and reduce human intervention in vehicle fitness testing. He also directed that the regional driving training centre in Chandigarh be made functional at the earliest to promote safe and trained driving practices in the city.
The matter regarding creation of 48 posts in the STA was also discussed during the meeting. The Chief Secretary directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to ensure that the functioning of the STA does not suffer due to shortage of manpower.
During the meeting, it was stated that 397 buses were presently operational within Chandigarh, while 269 buses were operating on inter-state routes. Besides, 139 e-buses are currently operational and 41 additional e-buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme are expected to be inducted by June. Those in the meeting were informed that procurement of 328 additional e-buses for Chandigarh had been initiated through the CESL under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure advance planning and timely infrastructure readiness for smooth operation of the expanded e-bus fleet.
