Chandigarh November 17: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal today directed the District Transport Officers (DTOs) to work dedicatedly to bring about a complete transparency in the functioning of Transport Department by implementing “Faceless and Cashless” system thereby supplementing the State Government’s efforts of providing clean and graft-free governance to its people.

Mr Manohar Lal was presiding over a meeting of DTOs of all 22 districts of the State. Transport and Mines and Geology Minister, Mr Mool Chand Sharma was also present in the meeting.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister symbolically distributed portable weighing machines to DTOs of Karnal and Gurugram. He said that initially 45 portable weighing machines have been purchased by the Department and if this experiment proves successful, more such machines would be purchased. These machines would help to keep a tab on the overloading vehicles, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government has been working with the sole aim of providing a clean administration to the people of the State and has adopted a policy of zero tolerance against corruption. He said that taking strict note of the frequent complaints of corruption in the Transport Department; the State Government had launched “Operation Shudhi” under which several decisions were taken to infuse transparency in the department and depute independent DTOs in all districts is among such decisions.

He said that the State Government has not only transferred about 250 employees of the Department but also circulated the list of Undesirable Contact Men (USM) to all DTOs following which their entry has been completely banned thus giving a clear message to those involved in the corrupt practices to mend their ways.

Addressing the DTOs, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has posed a great faith in them while deputing them in the districts and they should deliever their best to serve the society.

He said that all DTOs should make best use of technology and other digital equipment like CCTV cameras in their offices to keep a close vigil on the movement of the people entering their offices. Apart from this, separate registers should be maintained to keep the details of visitors entering their offices. He also asked the Officers to maintain secrecy while conducting raids in the fields and ensure that the same is not disclosed in any manner.

He also asked them to interact with the representatives of different Transport Unions from time to time and patiently hear their concerns so that appropriate action could be taken to resolve them.

While taking serious note of complaints regarding the entry of overloading vehicles carrying goods and mining material in Haryana from other States, the Chief Minister directed that regular checking be conducted at the interstate borders to keep a check on the infiltration of overloading vehicles from neighboring states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Manohar Lal also directed the DTOs to maintain proper coordination with departments like Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and Town and Country Planning Department for the setting up of Transport Nagars which have been proposed in major towns of the State. Besides, they should also follow up the matter with the concerned departments regarding setting up of parking sites for the systematic parking of vehicles to avoid traffic jams. He also asked the officers to study the latest policies of the Transport Department issued from time to time for road safety, school buses etc and also share their best practices to improve their efficiency.

It was informed that with a view to minimize human intervention in the existing practice of Inspection and Certification of vehicles which was being done by Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs), the State Government has set up an Inspection and Certification Centre at Kanheli in district Rohtak which would cater the vehicles of districts Jind, Sonipat, Panipat and Jhajjar. It was also informed that such Centres would also be set up in districts namely Karnal, Ambala, Rewari, Hisar, Faridabad and Gurugram.

Speaking on this occasion, Transport and Mines and Geology Minister, Mr Mool Chand Sharma asked the DTOs to work as a team and enhance the revenue of the department by keeping a check on overloading vehicles, illegal mining and plying of private buses without permit.

Earlier, Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Mr Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor said that the DTOs have conducted meetings with different Transport Unions and directed them to ply vehicles as per the permit issued to them. He said that as a result of strict enforcement, a fine of Rs 8 crore has been imposed on the violators. He said that as per the vision of the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, the Faceless and Cashless system is being implemented in the Transport Department to minimize human interface and enhance transparency.

Among those present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr Vijai Vardhan, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr D.S. Dhesi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr V. Umashankar, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Amit Agarwal, Transport Commissioner Mr S.S Phulia, DGP Mr Manoj Yadava, ADGP CID Mr Alok Mittal and DTOs of all 22 districts of the State.