Our Correspondent
Imphal, April 29 (EMN): One and half month old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition government in Manipur decided to restart Manipur State Transport (MST) immediately in a move to provide an economical, efficient, sustainable, affordable and properly coordinated public transport service. A state cabinet also took a decision in this regard on Friday.
According to a press release by Directorate of Information and Public Relations here, the modalities will be worked out to start bus service within next one month. MST will be owned and run by the State transport department in the initial phase. The arrangement will subsequently involve participation by private operators under the banner of MST, it said.
Initially MST will start with 14 routes, connecting Imphal with all the districts namely- Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Bishnupur, Jiribam, Noney, Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Thoubal, Kakching, Chandel and Tengnoupal.
Due to heavy increase in numbers of vehicles and pedestrians population with limited narrow roads and parking spaces mainly within valley districts of Manipur leading to daily and yearlong inconveniences of traffic congestion and unwanted frequent accidents, the state authority also decided to create one post of Superintendent of Police (Traffic) and one post of Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to look after traffic in the state capital. In addition, Traffic Police will be posted and attached with all other district SPs.
Besides there are also plans of developing footbridge at important junctions in Imphal for the convenient of the pedestrians.
In view of the increase of cyber crime complaints in recent times, the state cabinet also decided to create one post of Deputy Superintendent of Police to deal with and investigate cyber crimes.
On the importance and relevance of renewable energy sector and solar energy in particular, it further decided to provide subsidy of Rs 10,000 per KW for installation of grid connected rooftop solar power plants. The amount of state capital subsidy however will be limited to a maximum of two KW or Rs 20,000 per beneficiary and also decided to restructure the Manipur Development Society and to hand over the cases relating the irregularities of accounts of Manipur Development Society to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Cabinet also discussed regularisation of payment of enhanced scales of pay to teachers having requisite qualification and decided to withdraw earlier cancellation order dated September 6 last year by the Education Department (Schools).