Srinagar, Oct 7: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting of the Transport Department to assess its overall functioning, modernization initiatives, and measures aimed at enhancing road safety across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Transport Department, Avny Lavasa; Transport Commissioner; Managing Director, J&K RTC; Director, Motor Garages; RTOs of Kashmir and Jammu, besides other senior officers of the department.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary laid strong emphasis on the early completion and operationalization of key infrastructure projects, including the Institute of Driver Training & Research (IDTR), Jammu, and the Inspection & Certification Centre (ICC), Samba, terming them as critical to modernizing transport services in the Union Territory.
He directed all implementing agencies to ensure mission-mode execution and time-bound completion of projects so as to improve public service delivery and efficiency.
Underscoring road safety as one of the department’s top priorities, the Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive action plan to curb traffic violations and reduce road accidents. He reviewed enforcement measures such as the cancellation of driving licences and Registration Certificates (RCs) and the seizure of vehicles belonging to repeat offenders.
He also took stock of the incidence of road accidents, fatalities, and the relief extended to victims under the Road Safety Fund, besides reviewing the pace of dispatch of driving licences to applicants, including clearance of pending backlogs.
Presenting a detailed overview of the department’s initiatives, Secretary, Transport Department, Avny Lavasa, gave a comprehensive briefing on key projects and strategic reforms aimed at transforming J&K’s transport infrastructure and governance.
As part of the department’s technology-driven reforms, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has identified 92 locations across highways for the installation of electronic enforcement devices. The DPR will be forwarded to the IT Department for vetting by October 15, with tenders expected to be floated by November 10.
On the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, it was revealed that the draft Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility Policy is in its final stage of formulation. Once notified, it will operationalize a ₹10 crore incentive fund on a First-Come, First-Served basis, facilitating the scrapping of around 3,500 government vehicles, potentially generating ₹170 crore in incentives within the government transport sector alone.
As part of its citizen-centric services, the department has dispatched 1,07,627 driving licences out of 1,28,715 new applications, and 1,21,672 licences from 1,51,103 backlog applications till date.
Concluding the review, the Chief Secretary reiterated that all these projects are central to the government’s vision of developing a modern, safe, efficient, and technology-driven transport ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at providing better mobility, public convenience, and road safety for all.
