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Punjab unveils new transport policy to ‘overhaul system’

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Private bus operators in Punjab, including the Badals, may run into financial troubles with the Congress Government’s “new” transport policy which was approved on 5th July,2017. It also abolished the system of district transport officers (DTO) and restructuring the transport department.

Key highlights of the policy

A special task force of the vigilance department has been set up and the state police to crack down on all illegall buses

  • It will complete its function in two phases.
  • Cancellation of 78 integral luxury coaches,and  another 6,700 minibuses will be done and  allotted afresh.
  • Permits issued under this scheme will be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue and shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of renewal. Punjab unveils new transport policy to 'overhaul system'
  • The department will tie up with major taxi operators such as Ola, Uber etc for the implementation of  “Apni Gaddi, Apna Rozgar” scheme, in which the youth can take loan from the government and no collateral will be required.
  • In case of private operators, not more than 25% of the total permits on a particular route will be issued to one firm/party/person.
  • Employment will be created through ‘Yaari Enterprises’ scheme in which subsidy would be provided to youth
  • For the convinence of people the state government will seek a time period of three months from the courts to implement the scheme in a phased manner
  • In Punjab, private players have a significant presence in the transport sector. The Badal family, is learnt to be among the top private players in the transport sector. So it was important  to unshackle the public transport system from the monopoly of the private transport mafia in the State.