40th meeting of Transport Development Council held at New Delhi

GUWAHATI: Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary attended the 40th meeting of Transport Development Council (TDC) virtually which was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways under the chairmanship of Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

Addressing the council, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Government of India plays the role of a facilitator with support of the respective State governments. "Only due to the quick and sincere implementation of the Central Motor Transport Acts and Rules, rapid change in the road transport scenario is being witnessed in India which is fast catching up in line with the developments in the transport sector of the developed countries. From improvements in vehicle fuel quality to BSVI engine development, improvements in electric vehicles and batteries, introduction of hybrid vehicles, etc., India is emerging as a world leader in the automotive sector," Gadkari said.

On the issue of black spots, State Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary requested Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to take up the matter with NHAI and NHIDCL to address road design flaws and other technicalities to reduce road fatalities.

Minister Patowary said, "Assam has been regularly interacting with the stakeholders of road safety council and extensive enforcement drive is being carried out to minimize the number of road accidents and fatalities."

Stating the action plan for observation of the national road safety month at State, district as well as panchayat level, Patowary added, "Awareness programmes are being planned on good Samaritan law and Path Surakha Mitras have been identified to extend quick response to road accident victims."

The Transport Minister further deliberated on Digi Locker, road accident data management system, introduction of electric bus, free pink bus service for senior citizens and women, collection of online motor vehicle tax, delivery of driving license, registration etc. through post, stated a release.

Laying the objective of green initiative, Patowary updated the projects of the biofuel refinery at NRL as well as that of the methanol plant of Assam Petrochemicals Corporation Limited.

Patowary thanked Gadkari for the ongoing project work of the Multi Modal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Jogighopa and requested sanction of a similar proposed MMLP at Silchar, Barak Valley, the release added.

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