Punjab, on Wednesday became the first state in the country to go online with the issue of national permits for trucks and other heavy vehicles.
In a move which would cut down all paperwork and hassles generally associated with the process, Dy. CM Sukhbir Singh Badal handed over permits to truck operators within minutes of their filing applications in Patiala.
In a statement to the press, Badal stressed on the reasoning behind this progressive move. He said, "Punjabi transporters are the backbone of the country’s transport system and it was the primary duty of the government to solve their problems on priority. I am myself from a family of transporters and can understand the problems faced by transport operators."
Badal also criticized the cumbersome and costly process in place currently, for the procurement of national permits with transporters being forced to shell out Rs.3,000 per state every year for the permit.
He also emphasized how the new system would help operators by saying,"A meagre cost of Rs.15,000 will give freedom to the truck operators to operate their trucks from Kashmir to Kanyakumari without any additional tax."
On this occasion, he also launched a SMS service for truck operators. This 24x7 service would help truck operators to prove the authenticity of their permits to state police department who may have detained them illegally. A simple SMS by the operator will elicit an immediate reply from the Punjab transport department, confirming the authenticity of the truck permit.
image courtesy - wikimedia commons