Centre promises action on Kerala's transport woes, including VAHAN glitches and KSRTC modernisation
New Delhi, [Date]: In a significant step towards resolving Kerala's persistent transport issues, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari met with Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John on Thursday. The meeting addressed a range of concerns, including technical glitches in digital platforms, fleet modernisation for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), and driver training infrastructure.
Admitting the recurring technical issues affecting the VAHAN and SARATHI software systems, Gadkari directed the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to resolve them within a week. The integration of the state's e-challan platform with the national e-challan system is also expected to be completed in a few days through coordination between NIC units at the national and state levels, according to a statement from the Kerala Transport Department.
The meeting also discussed problems related to Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, particularly those issued by centres in other states for vehicles registered in Kerala. The Centre advised Kerala to strengthen its state-level verification mechanisms and promised action against those responsible for violations.
A key outcome was the Centre's agreement in principle to share data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems on national highways with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD). Full automation of the WIM system and data sharing are expected to be completed within a year. The Centre also directed the state to make automated testing stations operational at the earliest and to ensure that registered vehicle scrapping facilities in Kerala are fully functional without delay.
On the modernisation of the KSRTC fleet, Gadkari responded positively to the state's request for soft loans. The Centre will forward a proposal to the Department of Economic Affairs for consideration. Additionally, the state has been advised to approach the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs regarding the procurement of buses.
The Centre assured immediate approval for the Regional Driver Training Centre at Parassala and district-level driver training centres, acknowledging delays in granting permissions. It also agreed to consider the state's proposal for toll exemptions or concessions for KSRTC buses at NHAI toll plazas.
In a move towards sustainability, the Centre extended full support for implementing a pilot hydrogen transportation project in the KSRTC in collaboration with the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) as part of a low-carbon emission initiative. Gadkari directed officials to take necessary steps to expedite the project.
