Centre directs state governments to set up Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, May 23, 2010
Jaipal Reddy flagging off a Bus (File Photo)
In a move aimed at improving the situation of public transport services in urban areas, union government has asked all states having cities with million plus population to speed up the process of setting up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA).
The ministry of urban development has written the states seeking funds under the JNNURM to set up a dedicated urban transport fund and change bye-laws and master-plans of cities to integrate land use and transport planning.
To streamline public transport, the ministry has directed the states to nominate a single department to deal with all urban transport issues efficiently.
The states have also been asked to set up a traffic information management control centres and to frame parking policies to deal with these typically urban problesms
The ministry stated that central financial assistance under the scheme will depend on the reforms undertaken by the state governments concerned.
To make public transport economically viable keeping in mind the inflationary trends, the ministry has suggested the setting up of a regulatory and institutional mechanism to periodically revise fares for all public and intermediate public transport.
