Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 7: Minister for Transport, Abdul Gani Kohli informed the Upper House that 12,95,780 vehicles have been registered by Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) up to August 2015.
He said on an average about 1.10 lakh vehicles have been annually added to vehicle population during last three years, adding that at this pace total population of vehicles would reach 15,75,000 vehicles approximately in next three years.
The Minister said this while replying to a question by Charanjeet Singh in the Legislative Council today. The Minister said that the Government has constituted a High Powered Committee of 10 members under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary for implementation of comprehensive mobility plan for twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
The Minister said that the State Government has also engaged RITES to suggest measures for planning better traffic and transportation facilities in cities of Jammu and Srinagar. He added that the agency has submitted its report in the context of planning of Mobility Plan for the two cities, which is being examined for effective implementation.
The Minister further said that various immediate steps have also being taken to reduce traffic congestion in the cities. He said for all non-commercial vehicles it has been made mandatory to have PUC certificate from Pollution Control Units and all commercial/passenger vehicles beyond 15 years of age are subjected to mechanical fitness every six months to upkeep mechanical condition of vehicles and to regulate pollution emission norms.
Romesh Arora and Ajatshatru Singh raised supplementaries to the main question.
Meanwhile, replying to the debate on a resolution moved by Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the Minister said that effective measures are being taken to ensure adequate parking facility for vehicles to avoid traffic congestion.
The Government has taken some effective measures to overcome this grave problem and a policy in this regard would be announced soon.
The Minister said that several multi-level parking facilities are under construction at various places in Jammu and Srinagar which will ease out the traffic congestion to a large extent.
Earlier, while moving the resolution, Manhas said that parking space availability should be made mandatory before issuing vehicle register certificates. The resolution was supported by Ajatshatru Singh.
After receiving satisfactory assurance from the Minister, Manhas withdrew his resolution.
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