Gadkari said the opening of transport and highways will go a long way in instilling confidence among the public.
New Delhi 6 May 2020. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday assured the bus and car operators that the government is fully aware of their problems amid the coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown, and will fully support them to mitigate their issues. He said that he is in regular touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who are working overtime to uplift the economy during these difficult days of COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the members of the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India through video conferencing mode, Gadkari said, the opening of transport and highways will go a long way in instilling confidence among the public. He said public transport may open soon with some guidelines. He, however, cautioned towards maintaining social distance and adopting all safety measures like hand wash, sanitizing, face masks, etc while operating buses and cars.
Responding to concerns raised by the audience, the Minister informed that his ministry is looking at adopting the London model of public transport, where government funding is minimal and private investment is promoted. He also pointed out towards the poor standards of Indian bus and truck bodies which he said, work for only 5-7 years, whereas the European models last for up to 15 years. Gadkari emphasized upon adopting their good practices, which will also be economically viable for the indigenous industry in the longer run.
