Rest houses for transporters in Punjab

Ludhiana, May 15 (UNI) The Punjab government will construct ten ultra modern rest houses at different locations in the state for transporters and their employees, Finance Minister Surinder Singla said while addressing the National Transport Congress here today.

He said that land for the rest houses would be made avaliable by the local government department. The rest houses would have all the necessary boarding and lodging facilities both for transport owners as well as the drivers and their assistants, he added.

Mr Singla announced a grant of Rs five lakhs to the transport department for the construction of the rest houses. He asked the Punjab Truck Operators Union to form a committee to select the sites for the rest houses.

On the demand of the Punjab transporters, the minister announced the dismanteling of the mobile wing of the Punjab Police and doing away with the practice of detaining trucks for long hours at sales tax barriers. He also announced that the scheme of one-time settlement of unpaid taxes without penalities or fines would be implemented.

Local Bodies minister Jagjit Singh who also addressed the Congress announced a grant of Rs 1.85 crores for the development of the Transport Nagar here. Transport Minister Mohinder Singh Kaypee also addressed the transporters.

UNI HS JMK SY VC1915