The government is exploring the possibility of introducing "water transport" as an alternative mode for transport to facilitate the passengers, Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister said here today.
"Government is committed to provide safe and comfortable transport facilities to the commuters and efforts are afoot to explore the possibilities of starting water transport services as an alternative," G S Bali today said, while inaugurating a day long workshop for instructors of Driving Training Schools here.
He said that the government would soon start the water transport services on 16 different routes in Bilaspur, Kangra and Chamba, and 14 routes would be covered in Bhakra Nangal Dam in Bilaspur district, one for Pong Dam in Kangra district and one route in Chamera dam in Chamba reservoir.
"The central Government has accepted the water transport proposal of state government and high level team of officers of state transport would soon meet the Inland Waterways Authority of India for further implementation of water transport in the state", he added.
Besides transporting the passengers, arrangement for goods carriage would also be made to facilitate the agriculturist, he said.
Water transport would be started in PPP mode and after its successful implementation, it would also be implemented in other parts of the state, the minister said.
Bali said that road safety had been accorded top priority in the new transport policy of the state and modern facilities would be provided in all Drivers Training Schools and new modern drivers trainings schools would be opened in the state under PPP mode.
He said that training on emergency management would get special attention and special training would be imparted to the drivers and conductors.
