Chandigarh, April 18:
Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar on Tuesday vociferously raised the demand with union government to procedural change of scrapping 15 years old government vehicles of the state and to provide 50 percent central assistance in advance to the state.
S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, while participating in the meeting of Transport Ministers of all states and Union Territories at New Delhi, assured Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari that if the procedure of scrapping 15-year-old government vehicles is changed, the Punjab government will give priority to procure electric vehicles as a substitute for scrapped vehicles as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government has approved the electric vehicle policy in the state and is prioritising environment-friendly initiatives in the state. The Transport Minister also demanded to enhance the speed limit on national highways.
Referring to the demands of the state, Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari asked to send official communique from the Punjab government in this regard to meet these demands.
The Transport Minister said that various policy matters including review of traffic rules, setting up of vehicle fitness stations, financial assistance for e-buses and streamlining the process of issuance of driving licenses were also discussed during the meeting. He said that new transport schemes will be implemented soon in Punjab in collaboration with the union government.