With an aim to improve road safety in the country and facilitate ease of transport, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has convened a high-level meeting of Principal Transport Secretaries of states and Transport Commissioners to deliberate on various issues that need to be addressed urgently.
A preparatory meeting ahead of the meeting of the Group of Ministers on April 29 was held in the national capital recently to decide the shape of the forthcoming meeting. It was attended by stakeholders, including representatives of motor transport companies, state road transport undertakings and bus operators, among others.
Speaking about the April 29 meeting, Road Transport & Highways Secretary Sanjay Mitra said that the government is committed to facilitate building of a cogent mechanism for safe and seamless road travel in the country. The deliberations will focus on possible efforts to make road travel safer, reduce accidents, facilitate ease of transport and enhance customer experience in dealing with transport and police departments, he added.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted by the Central Government to suggest a road map for reforming the road sector. The GoM is headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan and comprises Transport Ministers from various states across the country. As a signatory to Brasilia Declaration, India is committed to reducing the number of road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020.
Experts feel that to ensure road safety and improve customer satisfaction, there is an urgent need to make administrative changes, amend the Motor Vehicles Act and make optimal use of technology to cut down delays.
