Andhra Pradesh   

Centre willing to aid States taking up transport reforms

Special Correspondent

Assistance will be subject to signing of MoUs by States and the Centre

HYDERABAD: The Centre intends to approach the Planning Commission shortly to extend financial support to State Governments that agree to undertake certain transport sector reforms.

The assistance will be subject to signing of memoranda of understanding, embodying the reforms by individual States with the Centre, Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu, said here on Saturday.

Rationalisation of taxes

Inaugurating a national seminar on `Need of public transport in the present scenario' organised by the APSRTC Staff and Workers Federation, Mr. Baalu said the reforms could include rationalisation of taxes to favour public transport, policies to encourage quality of service in public transport, freedom in fare fixation subject to an independent regulator, improvement of basic infrastructure for public transport and professionalisation of management of State Transport Undertakings.

The Union Minister felt improvement of road infrastructure was important for reduction of vehicle operation cost, pollution and road accidents.

His Ministry had undertaken the largest ever road improvement and upgradation programme through the National Highway Development Project (NHDP).

Upgradation

Some 6,700-km length of roads had been made four-lane as part of the upgradation programme by July-end last.

The works included 5,415 km of Golden Quadrilateral roads linking Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

The Mumbai - Chennai arm of the quadrilateral was fully completed.

Mr. Baalu said that a conference of Transport Ministers of States would be held at Shimla on September 5 to work out a holistic approach to sectoral issues.

KSRTC plea

M.R. Srinivasa Murthy, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, sought increase in the fleet of State Road Transport Undertakings (SRTUs) to reduce dependence on imported oil and avoid accidents and congestion.

He said the SRTUs were paying a tax of 17 to 18 per cent on their annual turnover.

If they saved on taxes, they would be able to provide good buses that would address problems of road congestion, pollution and accidents.

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