Transport issues dominate the assembly in question hour

Shimla, Mar 5 (UNI) The transport related issues dominated the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Budget session on the second day today, which began with Question hour.

The Transport Minister Krishna Kapoor said that the work of Shimla Inter-state new bus terminus was over 60 per cent complete.

He said the Mcleodganj Bus stand was completed but due to anomalies in the construction, the matter was pending in Supreme Court. He said that construction of Mandi BOT bus stand could not be started due to dispute with the contractor.

The matter was raised in the house by BJP member Mohinder Singh Thakur. Congress Member Kaul Singh Thakur demanded early construction of the Mandi Bus stand.

The Transport Minister said that Himachal Pradesh Road Transport was having net loss about Rs 2 Crore and 53 Lakh annually. He said that private bus routes were taken on the average rate of Rs 15.68 per Km while the government-run buses were costing Rs 23 per km.

Congress member Roop Singh raised the matter in house.

Former Transport Minister G S Bali also joined the debate saying that the BJP governemt was misleading the house by saying that private-owned bus were causing loss.

Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Prem kumar Dhumal, while replying in the house to a query by Congress member Gangu Ram Musafir, said that the road construction rate was very slow in the state because of the delay in granting NOC by Forest Conservation Departent.

He added that the government would raise the mater with the Centre.

The public works department minister Gulab Singh said that 31450 km road was completed till January 31, 2008 in the state.

He said that there are 26510 km single line road, 2377 double-lane road and 368 motorable roads in the state.

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