Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow – Ensuring better road connectivity in the state for the benefit of the ‘common man’, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ahead of the occasion of Rakshabandhan flagged off a fleet of 150 new BS-6 buses as well as inaugurated the driving, training, testing institutes, automated driving testing track, and various other projects on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion in the state capital, the Chief Minister said, “Buses are the primary medium of transport for our common man and to ensure that every person is provided with accessible means of transport, the government is focusing on improving bus services and road connectivity in the state.”
Maintaining that women’s security is of utmost importance to his government, Yogi Adityanath said that there can be no better day to dedicate these new buses than ahead of Rakshabandhan where “our sisters will also be provided with free rides beginning from midnight today. Two buses have been allotted for every district. For 48 hours, all women in the state can avail free bus services from 10th Aug midnight till 12th Aug midnight.”
Among the newly launched projects are the Driving Training and Testing Institutes of Jhansi, Bareilly, and Aligarh, an Automated Driving Testing Track in Bareilly, Sarathi Hall in Firozabad as well as 7 bus stands while foundation stone of 2 other bus stands has also been laid.
Criticising the previous governments for neglecting the development of the State Road Transport Corporation, the Chief Minister said that the road services and buses of the state were not improved to meet the needs of the present and future, however, in 2019, during Prayagraj Kumbh, “our government arranged quality travel, keeping needs and convenience of the devotees in mind through the Prayagraj Mela Authority and the Transport Corporation.”
While addressing the gathering, CM Yogi said, “During COVID, officials of State Road Transport Corporation worked day and night along with the frontline and healthcare workers to facilitate migrants and students returning to their villages,” adding, “State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) is a friend in need.”
Reiterating the need for establishing better connectivity in the state, the Chief Minister said that buses will prove to be the medium that can help us reach far-flung areas in all the revenue villages. “If our airports can be developed with state-of-the-art facilities, so can our bus stations,” he remarked.
He went on to say that the government is working to develop all facilities like proper drinking water facilities, proper separate washrooms, restrooms, and parking facilities at all the bus stations in the state. “The dilapidated buses should be replaced with new ones, as well as a system should be implemented to ensure that the bus drivers are healthy enough to avoid any kind of mishappenings,” added the CM.
“The state government had entered into MoUs with many states during its previous tenure to improve the inter-state connectivity and provide a better range of services to the people,” said Yogi.
On the occasion, Yogi Adityanath also announced that his government is soon going to make travelling for women above 60 years of age within the state through state buses free of cost.
Expressing deep grief and concern over deaths due to road accidents and mishappenings, the Chief Minister said that the government succeeded in controlling deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, nearly 20,000 people die every year due to road accidents in the state. “This has to be curbed and efforts should be made to bring down the number of deaths in road accidents,” he said.
