No more petrol, diesel vehicles in Bengal by 2030: minister

25 Aug 2022 CW Team

The transport system in West Bengal is set to undergo major changes, with stress on efficiency, non-pollution, safety and transparency. State Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty said that by 2030 smart vehicles will replace the petrol and diesel vehicles in the state.

The minister held a meeting with the district administration, police, and RTOs of eight districts in Siliguri this week. Later, the Minister said, "We have entered into an agreement with Tata Motors. They will be providing 1180 e-buses. The buses will be delivered and introduced in phases throughout the state in the next two to three years."

He added that the entire transport system will be overhauled by 2030. "There will be no diesel, petrol vehicles in future. They will be replaced by smart e-vehicles and CNG vehicles by 2030. We will have to introduce e-charging points throughout the state in a very planned manner for this."

The transport department is also planning to introduce special services during the festival of Durga Puja.

"There is a great rush during pujas so we will have more buses. We could also have special services, including conducted package tours for Pujo Porikroma (visiting puja pandals)," said the minister.

"Very soon there will be an online system in place by which people can apply for and renew driving license permits from the comfort of their homes. They will not have to queue up and it will reduce harassment," said Chakraborty.

The Minister added that as the Chief Minister does not want to burden the public there are no plans to increase bus fares immediately.

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