As part of its ongoing drive to improve the efficiency and security of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses, the Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation of projects worth thousands of crores of rupees and also opened the Command Control Centre at the corporation’s headquarters.

Underscoring its commitment to providing a safer and more accessible public transport system for every citizen in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone for the construction and renovation of ten bus stations at the cost of Rs 3,067 crore. Besides, it also inaugurated the Command and Control Centre and three other bus stations built at the cost of Rs 1,048 crore.

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The newly established Command Control Centre boasts of cutting-edge features, including real-time bus tracking, instant emergency assistance at the exact location, and a panic button alert system. These advancements are poised to elevate the safety standards of the corporation’s buses, aligning with the government’s mission to prioritise the well-being and convenience of commuters.

Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge) Dayashankar Singh laid the foundation stone and inaugurated all these projects in the auditorium of the corporation headquarters. He stated that the establishment of the Command and Control Centre will enable live tracking of the corporation’s buses from the headquarters itself.

He mentioned that immediate assistance can be provided in case of any emergency, with real-time location availability. In case of any untoward incident during the journey, passengers can press the panic button installed in the vehicle. This action will trigger a panic alert which would be displayed in the Command Control Centre at the headquarters and the concerned regional control room.

The Transport Minister further said that adequate staff will be available in the Command Control Centre and the regional control rooms for 24×7 monitoring and prompt action would be taken in accordance with the specified SOP upon receiving alerts. He also pointed out that this facility will provide significant relief to people. “Additionally, the inauguration of the Driver Training and Research Centre in Rae Bareli will help us select skilled and competent drivers,” the minister remarked.

The Transport Minister mentioned that numerous facilities have been made available online to provide significant relief to people. “For instance, the process of obtaining a driving licence has been made 100 per cent online. Besides, the inauguration of the Driving Testing Institute is also underway in Ayodhya. This institute will be fully automated, ensuring transparency in holding driving tests and issuing licences to deserving candidates only,” he asserted.

He further informed that the Transport Department plans to establish Modern Driving Testing Institutes in every centre of the state. “At the commissioner level, they have established it autonomously, with Maruti overseeing five centres. Today marks the inauguration of the Driving Testing Institute in Ayodhya. Furthermore, Maruti will utilise its CSR funds to operate institutes in Gorakhpur, Mathura, Kashi, and Prayagraj,” he said.

The Transport Minister mentioned that currently there are 10 more institutes. Besides, the government is setting up driving institutes on the PPP model in every district, in which a grant of Rs 1 crore is also being given. He stated that the current driving centres lack modernity, underscoring the government’s commitment to establishing modern ones while ensuring transparency across the board.

“Trained drivers will now be more accessible, and licences will only be issued after adequate training. This is in line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s objective of reducing accident cases by 50 per cent”, he stated.