To make public transport better, the central government may start an annual FASTag pass for state transport buses and private commercial vehicles. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has started thinking about this in the interest of a large part of transport service.
The central government is also ready to give land at low rates to groups of private bus operators to build facilities along national highways. In public transport, private buses play the biggest role in the country.
92% of Buses in India are Private
According to the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India, 92% of the buses in the country are private, with a total of about 20 lakh buses. The data says that around 5 lakh people travel by air every day, 2.40 crore by rail, 1.15 crore by metro, while 40 crore people travel by buses. Out of these, 32 crore people travel by private buses.
Even though buses are such an important mode of transport, the Confederation complained to the Ministry about not getting enough facilities. On this, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured that just like the annual FASTag of ₹3,000 for private cars, a similar facility is being considered for state transport, private buses, and cab drivers.
Ministry Studying the Proposal
The Confederation said that transport vehicles make more trips, so their FASTag amount should be higher. Gadkari replied that the Ministry is studying how this facility can be given so that transport operators benefit.
The Minister also said he does not agree with the rule of low speed limit for commercial vehicles and higher speed limit for private vehicles. The Centre has told state Transport Ministers many times that there should be one uniform speed limit, but states have not yet agreed. Efforts are still going on.
Gadkari also suggested that if private bus operators apply in groups like FPOs, then the Ministry is ready to give land at low rates along national highways to build roadside facilities. If such proposals come, the Ministry will make a policy for it.