Chandigarh: Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij said that, keeping passenger convenience in mind, the Haryana Roadways mobile App will be launched within the next one month. In addition, around 700 conductors will be recruited for Haryana Roadways, and 500 electric buses will be purchased for the state.
Anil Vij was chairing a review meeting with officers of the Transport Department in Chandigarh today. Transport Department Commissioner and Secretary Sh. Atul Kumar was also present at the meeting.
700 Conductors to Be Recruited, 500 Electric Buses to Be Purchased
During the meeting, officers informed Anil Vij that around 700 conductors in the department are due for promotion, and 700 new conductors will soon be recruited against the resulting vacancies. Anil Vij directed the officials to complete the necessary action at the earliest. Officials also informed him that 500 electric buses will be purchased to promote green transport along with green energy in the state. In addition, 125 ordinary buses body are being manufactured through the Haryana Roadways Engineering Corporation (HREC).
Mobile App to Provide Live Bus Location and Support Three Languages
During the meeting, Transport Department officers gave Minister Anil Vij a presentation of the mobile application being developed for Haryana Roadways. After reviewing the App, Sh. Anil Vij directed the officers to add all necessary modules for passenger convenience. He said that the App should provide information about the expected arrival of a bus at a designated bus stand or bus stop at a scheduled time, information regarding bus stoppages at unauthorised locations, and other essential passenger services. Anil Vij also directed that the App should be available in three languages—Hindi, English and Punjabi.
He instructed officers to make the App available on both Android and iOS platforms. Passengers should be able to track the live location of buses, enabling them to plan their journeys more effectively. The App should also provide fare information between different destinations, along with facilities such as digital QR codes/cards for passengers travelling under various schemes. Vij directed officers to incorporate the required modifications and conduct a trial of the App at the earliest.
Digital Display Boards to Be Installed at All Bus Stands
The Transport Minister directed that bus timetables and destination information be displayed on digital display boards at all bus stands across the state, enabling passengers to plan their journeys in advance. He also directed that the arrival and departure timings of every bus at bus stands should be recorded at the control centre. He said that if a driver fails to take a bus to its designated bus stand, the system should automatically initiate a process to establish accountability. Vij said that GPS systems will be installed in all buses operating under Haryana Roadways, which will make monitoring and operations more effective.
Emphasis on Providing Clean and Quality Foods at Bus Stands
The meeting also discussed measures to prevent the sale of adulterated and substandard food at bus stands. Vij directed officers to explore the possibility of establishing a new corporation under the Transport Department on the lines of the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), so that passengers can be provided clean and quality food at fixed and reasonable prices.
He also issued strict instructions to immediately remove unauthorised food vendors operating at bus stands. Vij made it clear: “Anil Vij will not allow people to be sold poison in the name of food and beverages.”
Bus Stands to Be Developed as Models of Cleanliness
Anil Vij directed officers to ensure regular and timely cleaning of toilets at bus stands. He also emphasised the need for vacuum cleaning at bus stands so that Haryana’s bus stand can become models of cleanliness for the country. He further directed that toilets at bus stands that are in a dilapidated or damaged condition should be repaired or reconstructed on priority.
Various other issues related to the Transport Department were also discussed in detail during the meeting. Anil Vij issued necessary directions to officers regarding passenger convenience, improvement of bus services, cleanliness, technological monitoring and making the transport system more efficient.
Transport Commissioner Prabhjot Singh, Director General of the Transport Department Dhirendra Khadgata, HARSEC Director Dr. Sultan Singh, and other senior officers of the department were also present in the meeting.
