Imphal, the 22nd September, 2017 (DIPR): Keeping in view the seriousness of fatal accidents in many cases, the Transport Department, Government of Manipur initiated a drive of checking fake / duplicate licenses being used by the drivers in the State in April this year and verified 1852 Licenses. The drive was in close coordination with the Traffic Police.
Realizing the magnitude of the matter, a special cell has also been created in the Directorate of Transport under the Asst. Director of Transport, on 5th June 2017. Earlier 1773 Licenses have been submitted for verification and 400 fake licenses have been detected. FIRs are being lodged by the DTOs concerned and documents have been submitted to SP (CID/CB) for necessary enquiry.
The Department is also concerned with the frequent complaints received from the public regarding unscrupulous and corrupt practices by its officials. Under the aegis of the Anti-Corruption Cell, action has been initiated against an ASI (Taxation), DTO/Bishnupur and the concerned official has been placed under suspension.
Another achievement of the Department is the launching of VAHAN and SARATHI at DTO/ Ukhrul by the Chief Minster, Shri N. Biren Singh on the11th April 2017. This will facilitate issue for SMART Cards for registration of Vehicles and issue of Driving Licenses for the citizens of Ukhrul District.
It is worth to recall that the Department of Transport under the mandate of the present Government has taken up the initiative of reviving the public transport system. After a gap of 15 years, the Department launched the public transport system christened as MANIPUR STATE TRANSPORT on 25.6.17. It is conceived with the objective of providing an economical, efficient, sustainable, affordable and well-coordinated transport system for the State of Manipur. This will also bridge the gap between the demand for good public transport system and its poor supply by the private transport operators that is further compounded by the lack of standard and reliability in the private transport system and at the same time, it breeds unhealthy competition and factional disputes.
It is proposed that the fleet size will be around 150 buses (mixed) to be achieved in three phases. Initially, the Government has approved five buses (Marco-Polo) for procurement. Initially, combined with the 10 (ten) Semi Low Floored (SLF) buses, the fleet size will be 15 buses (mixed). These buses will be used for inter-district and city bus services. The routes being covered are—- City-Bus Service from ISBT and MST Complex, Moirangkhom in clockwise and counter clockwise direction passing through the Ima Market complex; for Imphal- Thobal- Yairipok, SLF; Imphal- Moirang; Imphal- Mayailambi-Kakching; Imphal-Noney; Imphal- Moreh and Imphal- Pherzawl will operate from MST, Complex Moirangkhom.
The fares for the city bus are charging at a flat rate of Rs. 10, whereas, for the inter-district buses, rate of Rs.1 per Km for valley section of the route and Rs. 1.20 for the hill section of the route is being charged. The initial response has been very positive and steps for consolidating the system by increasing the no. of routes and fleet size are being taken up.
The Transport Department is also appraised and conscious of the various concerns regarding road safety and awareness. Keeping the need for public safety and awareness, signages indicating intersection points, cross roads, speed limit, pedestrian crossing and school ahead have also been affixed. (DIPR)
