Ministers urge Centre to evolve national transport policy

Thiruvananthapuram, July 7 (UNI) The Standing Committee of Transport Ministers of Southern States has urged the Centre to evolve a national transport policy giving more emphasis to mass transport system to bring down density of vehicles on roads.

A two-day conference of the Committee, which concluded here today, pointed out that such a policy would also help bring down road accidents and promote energy conservation.

Briefing mediapersons on the deliberations of the Committee, Kerala Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas said recommendations of the conference would be presented at the meeting of State Transport Ministers to be held in New Delhi on July 23.

He said the conference had urged for a uniform policy on introduction of speed governors and making it mandatory for all the states.

Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act providing for deterrent punishment for traffic offences like drunken driving, making of driving licence test more strict and increased Central assistance to the transport sector were the other recommendations of the conference.

Mr Thomas said the conference was of the view that driving licence of those caught for drunken driving should be suspended for at least three months and the present penalty of Rs 1,000 doubled.

A sub-committee of Transport Commissioners had been constituted to recommend steps for the liberalisation of inter-state movement of transport vehicles and unification of taxes.

He said the Committee would be known as South India Transport Council. The next conference of the Council would be held at Puducherry in September 2008.

Besides Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnakata, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa are the other members of the Council.

UNI