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| The policy designed on the guidelines announced by the Centre in this respect, proposes to set up bodies like Orissa Transport Infrastructure Development Authority (OTEDA) and Transport Regulatory Authority (TRA) for better administration of the sector. |
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| OTEDA will function independently and will act as a facilitator for the public and private organisations for development transport infrastructure in the state. |
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| The state has over 4,000 private and 250 government buses. There are 37 bus stands without any passenger amenities and facilities for inspection or testing of the buses. |
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| Besides, over 43,000 trucks are operating in the state. Many of the cities, towns and other commercial centres do not have a truck terminal nor any roadside amenities for the truckers. |
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| OTEDA proposes to provide various passenger amenities at the bus stands and create roadside amenities for truckers. |
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| Similarly TRA will function as a statutory body for determination of tariff for passengers and goods services. It will function as quasi-judiciary institution with utmost transparency, the draft state. |
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| The state government is also planning to introduce mass rapid transit system in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar besides developing the urban transport system. |
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| Computerisation of regional transport offices and check gates, introduction of smart driving license, high security number plate, computerised tickets, strengthening of highway patrolling and opening up pollution testing centres in different parts of the state with the help of non-governmental organisations were among other features discussed in the draft. |
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| The draft policy was discussed at a high level meeting presided over by the state commerce and transport minister Arabinda Dhali here on Tuesday. |
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| Secretaries and senior officers of finance, commerce and transport and representatives of private bus and lorry association attended the meeting. |
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| The draft will be placed before the assembly for adoption in the coming winter session in December, sources said. |
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| Meanwhile, in another development, the state government, bowing to the pressures of the Centre, has withdrawn the Golden Card system applicable to the goods carrier in the state. |
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| Introduced in last fiscal, the objective of the system was to check pilferage in revenue collection and ensure hassle-free movement of trucks. |
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However, truckers had registered vehement protest against it.
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