The Hindu : Transport management to be improved

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Transport management to be improved

By B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE Jan. 21. The State Government has decided to adopt a five-pronged approach, including improvement of infrastructure and road safety management, to develop an effective transport management system in the State.

Sources in the Government told The Hindu that it had been decided to take a proactive approach to facilitate the development of an effective transport management system. The initiatives included using innovative technology for effective transport management, building up infrastructure, road safety management, steps to reduce air pollution, and developing an effective public relations system.

Under the initiative, the Transport Department is looking to encourage the use of LPG as fuel. Besides, it is keen to ensure that new information technology packages for the transport sector are put in place. The department is thinking of using smart cards as an alternative to the Registration Certificate book. These cards will be "locked" by the Regional Transport Officer when a vehicle is purchased and will be reopened only when the vehicle is sold.

The smart cards, which are likely to be introduced in Bangalore first, would have to be carried by motorists, apart from the licence. Karnataka would be among the first States to introduce such a system, the sources said.

Efforts are also being made to facilitate the development of a GPS or an RF monitoring system for public transport and communication.

These systems could help a big private fleet owner to not only devise the safest and shortest route but also indicate the position of the vehicle and the time it has taken to cover a particular distance.

Under the infrastructure initiative, the existing bus-stands in the State are being repaired and new buildings, depots, and truck terminals constructed. With the driving track in Kolar has become a big success, the Transport Department has suggested the setting up of a similar track in Bangalore.

A large number of vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, are registered in Bangalore everyday and the RTOs have not been able to adequately monitor the driving skills of those being issued with licences. The RTO officials are forced to check the skill of the drivers on narrow and congested roads. Once the driving tracks come up, the driving test can be conducted in a more orderly and professional manner.

The Transport Department has plans to set up driving tracks under each RTO. Since this involves huge expenditure, a proposal has been sent to the Centre to finance the scheme.

Trauma care centres, especially along highways, have been set up and more are in the offing. Plans are also afoot to expand the network of trauma care centres in the districts by involving more hospitals and nursing homes.

To bring down vehicular exhaust emissions, the department plans to encourage the use of petrol blended with ethanol, besides taking up programmes to prevent the adulteration of fuel.

In order to provide better service, the department has decided to adopt a "service with a smile" (SWS) initiative under which officers, particularly those manning the help desk and the public relations section, will answer queries politely and patiently.

The sources said these five initiatives would go a long way in bringing about a sea change in the transport sector in the State apart from preparing it to meet new challenges.

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