look news india
New Delhi: The Central Government has announced the Humsafar Policy, making it easier for facilities like clean toilets, wheelchairs, EV charging stations, petrol pumps, restaurants and parking around the highway network. If implemented properly, it can change the face of road travel.
Launching the policy on Tuesday, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari took a jibe at the officials, saying that after several studies and discussions with educated people (officials and experts), this policy has finally been implemented after a delay of four years. Its objective is to provide relief to the people. To ensure easy and safe travel. The Humsafar policy also includes side facilities to be installed every 40-60 km on the highway network. One thousand additional such facilities are scheduled. Apart from these, existing dhabas, restaurants, petrol pumps etc. around this network have also been brought under the ambit of the new policy. This information will be available on the highway travel platform. Their rating will also be done by private agencies, so that people can know the level of facilities available in them. The new policy will also allow centers providing these services to put up their signboards on highways. On this occasion, Gadkari acknowledged that it is our duty to develop these facilities for high level road service but the government has failed to complete it. Along with the launch of this policy, he also warned the existing petrol pumps to open the doors of their toilets to the public otherwise the NOC received by them will be cancelled. The new policy also includes child care rooms, which Gadkari specifically mentioned in the context of the harm they cause to women.
The new policy will provide a better environment for people to travel by road and will also strengthen entrepreneurs and create new employment opportunities. Gadkari expressed hope that the Humsafar brand will become synonymous with safe and easy travel. An important objective of this policy is to provide standard infrastructure of facilities along the highways and expressways, i.e. improved food points or toilets will not only be on the outskirts of big cities but also on the highway stretches around towns and villages.
The Road Transport Ministry has also made arrangements for monitoring of these services in the new policy. Gadkari has asked agencies like NHAI to pay constant attention to this. Service providers will have to provide signage at their entry-exit points, service lanes. Their license will be renewed every two years. If multiple applications are received within a radius of ten kilometers, only one license will be granted. Tax exemption will also be given to service providers on regular three plus rating.
Four types of services in the new policy
1. Eating places (restaurants, food courts, dhabas)
2. Eating places and fuel stations
3. Fuel stations only (including toilets, baby care rooms)
4. Trauma Center (with toilet, child care room)