The Minister for Surface Transport, Dr. M. Thambi Durai has called upon the States to allocate substantial portion of  road related taxes for the road sector. After inaugurating the 28^th meeting of the Transport Development Council here today, Dr. Durai said that one of the most serious drawbacks in the system of highway funding in the country is that road related revenues are not adequately allocated to the road sector. He said that most of these are treated as general revenues and only about 40% or so comes back to the road sector. Stating that development of road network in an area gives a boost to real estate activities in that area, the minister suggested that States should consider bringing out suitable legislation in this context to mop up resources for road development. He also mooted another suggestion to generate resources for road sector- to collect about 20% of the ex-factory price of automobiles at the manufacturing stage itself.

    Dr. Durai spoke about the increasing demand on roads due to the rapidly growing vehicle population and in this context emphasised on road safety and reducing vehicular pollution. For high-speed mobility, he said, his ministry was thinking of creating a dedicated organisation for planning and management of expressways in the country.

    The Minister of State for Surface Transport, Dr. Debendra Pradhan said that to give a boost to the Inland Water Transportation (IWT) sector a provisional amount of Rs. 408 Crore has been made during the 9^th Plan against an outlay of Rs. 240 Crore during the 8^th plan. He said that efforts are being made to attract private funds into this sector. However, he pointed out that unless basic infrastructure for navigation is provided, private sector is unlikely to invest.

    The meeting is being attended by ministers dealing with transport/highways/IWT and Secretaries from the States/UTs and representatives from motor vehicle manufacturers, Transport bodies like AIMTC, Automotive Research Institute of India, Association of State Road Transport Undertakings.

    Transport Development Council (TDC) is the apex body which advises Government on Transport Policy. The Chairperson of the Council is the Union Minister for Surface Transport and ministers dealing with highways/road transport/IWT from the States/UTs are its members.
 
 

    Under the direction of the Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar, the Railway Ministry has initiated stern measures to blacklist the companies who are found supplying contaminated mineral water. He himself got water samples checked and has asked for cancellation of supply contract of defaulting parties. Recently, Northern Railway has terminated the supply contract of four companies whose mineral water did not conform to the prescribed standards set by Director General of Railway Health Services.

    A comprehensive policy on supply of hygienic drinking water to the passengers has been prepared by the Directorate of Passenger Amenities to ensure free hygienic drinking water to all passengers by installing coolers and strengthening other arrangements at platforms. It also provides to supply purified water in bottles and through water dispensing machines to passengers who are willing to pay. Water vending machines are to be installed in the stations and in trains to supply pure drinking water to the passengers.

    The Northern Railway has installed water vending machines in New Delhi railway station on experimental basis. The drinking water is being provided in 300 ml glass, one litre bottles and in multi purpose bottles. The passengers can bring their own containers or buy a refill on platform. It is being sold at half the cost of normal mineral water. On an average 1000 litres of chilled cold drinking water is being sold through vending machines at Delhi during trial period. Based on the trial, Northern Railway would instal such machines at other important stations in near future.