UT Administration to incourage public transport

Chandigarh, Oct 24 (UNI) The UT Administration has finalised its transport policy for the city, which envisions a shift from personal vehicles to public transport by the users to decongest the city roads, increase public safety, reduce pollution and save fuel.

The policy would work as a vision document guiding future transport plans and procedures, an official spokesman stated here today.

"The policy has been prepared after taking the holistic view of providing efficient, adequate, economical, comfortable and properly co-coordinated transport service to the residents of the city as well as other persons visiting the 'City Beautiful'," he added.

Under the policy, a Mass Rapid Transit System will be developed keeping in view the long-term requirements of the city and the region.

The policy further envisages fixing of fares of public transport at reasonable level, to make them attractive for the users and competitive with the other modes of private transport.

Under the policy, the Administration will promote air-conditioned taxis for the convenience of residents and tourists. The petrol/diesel auto-rickshaws will be replaced by eco-friendly and economically viable LPG/CNG run vehicles in a phased manner. Entry of auto-rickshaws coming from outside and which are older than the life span fixed by Chandigarh Administration will not be allowed in the city.

In the Union Territory, only Chandigarh Transport Undertaking will provide the stage carriage services. No other state transport undertaking or private person will be allowed to operate stage carriage buses within the city.

The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking will shift from ordinary buses to air-conditioned buses in a phased manner depending on the demand.

All buses and queue shelters will be installed with public information system/global positioning system and manual ticketing will be replaced by electronic ticketing system in a phased manner.

On the inter-state routes, as per the inter state agreements with the respective states, all types of buses of other state transport undertakings would be allowed in the Union Territory.

Besides, private operators of other states would be allowed to operate only air-conditioned buses. The number of private air-conditioned buses will be fixed by the Administration.

UNI