Gadkari assures central assistance to modernise KSRTC; will resolve VAHAN portal glitch within a week

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari assured all possible central government assistance to KSRTC after meeting Minister CP John.

Gadkari said in the meeting that the proposal to provide loans at low interest rates for the modernisation of KSRTC will be forwarded to the Department of Economic Affairs. The state was also directed to approach the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for projects related to the purchase of new buses.

The issue of providing toll concessions to KSRTC buses at NHAI toll plazas will be considered after a detailed inspection.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been directed to resolve the ongoing disruptions in Vahan and Sarathi services within a week. It has been decided that the National NIC and the State NIC will work together to implement the e-challan system in Kerala and complete the integration within a few days.

Strict action will be taken to prevent the issuance of fake Pollution Control Certificates (PUCs). Minister CP John raised the issue of vehicles registered in Kerala receiving such fake certificates from other states. Gadkari also directed the cancellation of such certificates at the state level. The Centre asked the state to make the scrapping facilities and automated testing stations set up in the state operational as soon as possible.

The Centre agreed to share ANPR camera footage on national highways and Weigh in Motion (WIM) data that calculates the weight of vehicles with the state motor vehicle department.