India
PM Modi announces government plan to set up 1,000 modern resting facilities for drivers along NHs | India News
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced govt’s plan to set up 1,000 modern buildings to provide resting facilities along highways for truck, bus and taxi drivers, a move that aims to address the lack of such space for commercial drivers. A large share of these facilities would be developed by oil marketing companies and rest by NHAI, sources said.
Speaking at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, the PM said the new scheme is in the works to develop modern buildings with facilities for food, clean drinking water, toilets, parking and rest for drivers along the NH network.“Drivers are a big part of the mobility sector, those who drive our trucks, taxis. They drive for long hours. They don’t have time for rest. They are also victims of road accidents. We understand these concerns…This (establishing rest centres) will enable drivers to do ‘ease of travelling’ as well,” he added.
The latest road accident data show that in 2022, crashes caused by trucks and lorries resulted in 33,136 deaths and another 10,584 deaths of truck occupants.
TOI has learnt that most of these facilities will come up close to the existing and new petrol pumps along NHs and around 300-400 will be part of the Way Side Amenities (WSAs) being developed by NHAI. Sources said though drivers will have to pay for availing these services, the charges would be nominal.
Recognising the problem that drivers face, government’s National Logistics Policy (NLP) has assigned the task of creating adequate resting places for truck drivers to the road transport and highways ministry. Unavailability of good resting place is one of the major reasons for illegal and unsafe parking along highways and this also contributes to the drivers spending more time behind wheels.
A study of drivers by a non-profit entity across states had found that more than 58% faced fatigue or lack of sleep during trips, which is a major cause of concern.
Speaking at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, the PM said the new scheme is in the works to develop modern buildings with facilities for food, clean drinking water, toilets, parking and rest for drivers along the NH network.“Drivers are a big part of the mobility sector, those who drive our trucks, taxis. They drive for long hours. They don’t have time for rest. They are also victims of road accidents. We understand these concerns…This (establishing rest centres) will enable drivers to do ‘ease of travelling’ as well,” he added.
The latest road accident data show that in 2022, crashes caused by trucks and lorries resulted in 33,136 deaths and another 10,584 deaths of truck occupants.
TOI has learnt that most of these facilities will come up close to the existing and new petrol pumps along NHs and around 300-400 will be part of the Way Side Amenities (WSAs) being developed by NHAI. Sources said though drivers will have to pay for availing these services, the charges would be nominal.
Recognising the problem that drivers face, government’s National Logistics Policy (NLP) has assigned the task of creating adequate resting places for truck drivers to the road transport and highways ministry. Unavailability of good resting place is one of the major reasons for illegal and unsafe parking along highways and this also contributes to the drivers spending more time behind wheels.
A study of drivers by a non-profit entity across states had found that more than 58% faced fatigue or lack of sleep during trips, which is a major cause of concern.
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