The Hindu Business Line : ‘Provide green channel facility to high value cargo’

Proposals
Adoption of ‘single window clearance system’ for all authorised charges and clearances both at origin and check-posts.
Ensuring strict monitoring of overloading and enforcement of offloading of excess weight at load checking sites.

Mamuni Das

New Delhi, Sept. 22

With an aim to promote smoother flow of freight traffic on roads, the Committee for National Road Transport Policy has recommended widespread reforms that include rationalising taxes across States, providing “green channel” facility to high value cargo going to one destination, rationalising discretionary powers vested with policy and other departments, creating Web-based database of vehicles having national permits, amongst others.

Regarding “green channel” facility, “Implementation of this proposal will need some modifications to existing truck fleet, which can be sealed and certified for the journey of destination,” the committee has said.

It has also suggested adoption of “single window clearance system” for all authorised charges and clearances both at origin and check-posts. For this, the committee has recommended rationalisation of discretionary powers vested with officials of Police and other departments, consistent with requirements of national security, and law and order.

Additionally, the Committee headed by Government of Karnataka’s Chief Secretary (Transport), Mr D. Thangaraj, has called for creating a Web-based database of vehicles having national permits and adopting e-payment system for taxes to various States so as to eliminate much of the problems (such as leakage, delayed remittance and forgery).

Motor vehicle tax

Pointing out that the existing motor vehicle tax regime across States has wide variations, the Committee has suggested harmonisation of taxes across States and Union Territories. “There is need for rationalisation to ensure that the tax burden is distributed fairly among different types of vehicles taking into account the road damage caused by each type of vehicle,” it has said.

The Committee has also called for ensuring strict monitoring of overloading and enforcement of offloading of excess weight from vehicles at load checking sites. States should make sufficient land available at such sites for storage of offloaded goods at transporters’ risk. States should also impose demurrage charges for providing such storage facilities.

Road safety

Truck terminals should be set up outside cities with latest facilities. This will not only decongest cities and towns but also result in quicker turnaround time for trucks. Public-private partnership in rescue, evacuation and trauma care needs to be encouraged, the Committee has stated in its report which was recently forwarded to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

On ensuring road safety, it has recommended setting up apex multi-member body called National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board with regulatory, advisory, capacity building and research functions under an act of Parliament along with State Road Safety and Traffic Management Boards in States to provide for an institutional framework for a co-ordinated approach in the areas of road accidents.

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