Nitin Gadkari assures public transport to resume soon with few guidelines

NewsBharati    06-May-2020 17:35:24 PM
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Mumbai, May 6: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured that the public transport could open soon with some guidelines, however, cautioned to maintain social distance and adopting all safety measures like hand washing, sanitizing, face masks, etc while operating buses and cars on Wednesday.
 
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Interacting with the members of Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India through video conferencing mode, Gadkari said that the government is aware of the problems of the bus and car operators of the country. The government will be supporting them to mitigate their issues.
 
 
"Opening of transport and highways will go a long way in instilling confidence among the public," the statement read. However, he stated "public transport may open soon with some guidelines." Nonetheless alerted to maintaining social distance and adopting all safety measures like hand wash, sanitizing, face masks, etc while operating buses and cars.
 
The Minister even replied to the questions raised by the audience. "The ministry is looking at adopting the London model of public transport, where government funding is minimal and private investment is promoted."
 
Stating an advantage of the European models he said that those models last for up to 15 years whereas due to the poor standards of Indian bus and truck bodies works for only 5-7 years, whereas the European models. He emphasized adopting their good practices, which will also be economically viable for the indigenous industry in the longer run.
 
Gadkari said that he is in regular contact with the PM Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is working overtime to uplift the economy during the coronavirus crisis.
 
Though there is the tight financial condition of the Indian market during the ongoing pandemic all stakeholders will have to work together to combat it, he suggested. He pointed towards a very good business opportunity being offered by the world industry, which is trying to wriggle out of the Chinese market.
 
"The Indian industry should grasp this opportunity to invite those foreign companies to invest with them in India. The country and its industry will together win both the battles – the one with Corona, and the one with the economic slowdown," he further added.
 
Having said that, the members of the confederation made suggestions for "improving the condition of public transport which include extending interest payment exemptions, restarting public transport, extending age, life limit, deferring state taxes, extending MSME benefits, extending insurance policy validity, etc."