Mass transit system merits consideration, says CM

Shimla, Sep 22 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today stressed the need for high capacity mass transit system, saying very little additional capacity would be squeezed out of the existing system.

Addressing the ninth National Road Safety Council and 31st Transport Development Council here, he said besides construction of mass transit system, improvement in the public transport system was also essential.

Urging Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways to generate resources for funding such a system, he said privatization of transport has to be planned and regulated, while maintaining quality of service.

Mr Singh said there was an urgent need to strike a balance between the commercial needs of transport undertakings and welfare requirements of the state.

Mechanisms have to be evolved to provide financial support to transport undertakings to make them sustainable, he said.

He said the Motor Vehicles Act and the taxation laws provide little relief to the states, who had no other means of connectivity and sustenance of the transport corporation for them is crucial.

Efficient public transport system was key to control congestion on the roads, he said.

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