Guwahati, May 19 Assam Transport Minister Charam Boro on Tuesday appealed to people to reduce the use of private vehicles and rely more on public transport in view of the rising prices of petrol and diesel.
Speaking to reporters shortly after assuming charge of the department, Charam Boro said the government is reviewing measures to ease pressure on commuters and improve public transport facilities across the state.
He said people should make collective efforts to minimise fuel consumption during the present situation by opting for buses and trains instead of using personal vehicles wherever possible.
“The public should also think about the situation. If people use buses and trains instead of private vehicles, even to a small extent, it will help us deal with the present circumstances,” the minister said.
The minister stated that he had formally taken charge of the office only recently and had not yet conducted detailed meetings with officials. However, he added that he would begin reviewing the department's operations and examining the existing transport infrastructure and policies.
“I took charge only yesterday. I have not yet held detailed meetings, but I will review everything and start working on the issues step by step,” he said.
Referring to the growing number of vehicles on city roads, the minister acknowledged concerns about traffic congestion and said the government does not want commuters to suffer from excessive traffic jams caused by the increasing number of buses and private vehicles.
“We do not want a situation where passengers suffer due to traffic congestion in the city. We will frame rules and take necessary steps to manage the situation properly,” Boro added.
The minister also pointed out that the state government has already started reducing unnecessary movement of official convoys and departmental travel.
He said many departmental meetings are now being held online to save fuel and reduce travel.
“Even ministerial convoys and district visits have been reduced. Departmental meetings can also be conducted online. In the same way, people may also think about reducing the use of private vehicles during this period of high fuel prices,” Boro said.
The minister added that discussions would soon be held with the department and further directions would be taken in consultation with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
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