Bhubaneswar: From making RTOs broker-free to opening up operationalising inntra-state flights and implementing Odisha Port Policy 2022, the Commerce and Transport Department has witnessed major achievements over the last 10 years.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the performance and activities of the C&T Department. Following the review, the Department shared details on the achievements and performance of Commerce and Transport in Odisha. Below are the details:
Major Reforms Made
Road Transport Regulatory Sector
1. Right to Public Services
As many as 31 out of 32 services notified by the C&T Department under Odisha Right to Public Services (ORTPS) Act are being delivered on-line. The achievement was attained by 2022. Further steps are being taken to make the services “Visit-less” for the citizens. Most of these services are related to Driving License (DL) and Registration Certificate (RC). It is worth highlighting that Odisha was one of the leading states in 2006 to implement VAHAN (application software for Vehicle related services) and SARATHI (application software for Driver related services) with introduction of chip-based Smart Cards for DL & RC.
However, as a 5T measure, the Govt. of Odisha took proactive became the 1st State in the country to stop the practice of issuing DL & RC to applicants rather made the process completely paperless and hassle free.
2. 5T Induced Seamless Service Delivery
On 26th September 2019, Chief Minister directed to make the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) broker-free. The same was achieved and the RTO offices were installed with Information Kiosks and Smart Queue Management System (SQMS) which help save time for the visitors by allowing them to get their queries addressed through the kiosks and services availed through the SQMS.
3. Road Safety- Rakshak & Vahak
State Transport Authority conceptualised a First Responders Training Programme “Rakshak” with an aim to train and empower 30,000 first responders staying near accident prone areas and started a refresher training programme ‘Vahak’ for Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) drivers of the state at HMV Driver’s Training Institute, Chhatia, Jajpur. In Vahak programme around 1698 drivers have been trained at the driving institute in the month of April at HMV Driver’s Training Institute, Chhatia and in Rakshak programme 11,907 number of first responders trained till date.
Civil Aviation Sector
Despite being strategically located on the eastern coast of the country, endowed with minerals & natural resources, and having the state capital located just 2 – 2.5 hrs. flying distance from almost all major cities, Odisha had only one Airport namely Biju Patnaik Airport from 1962 which got a level movement and became an International Airport in 2013. Odisha has multiple airstrips spread across the
state. As a proactive measure, the state government came forward to revive the airstrips with an objective to enhance regional and intra-state air connectivity and use the properties for professional skilling of Odia youth.
Railway Sector
Till 2015, Odisha had 7 districts (Boudh, Deogarh, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Malkangiri, Nayagarh & Nawarangpur) which were unconnected by rail
network of India. Govt. of Odisha set a ‘High Priority Area’ to get railway connectivity to all districts and came forward to contribute for early completion of various ongoing but lagging projects to bring about rail connectivity to the unconnected districts. As of now, rail connectivity to 2 such districts namely Kendrapara and Nayagarh has been established. It is envisaged that with timely completion of the on-going projects, all the districts will be covered with the rail network of the country.
Port Sector
In 2004, the Odisha Port Policy was notified identifying 14 prospective locations as non-major ports. Odisha Port Policy 2022 was launched during the Make in Odisha Conclave‟22, including the areas such as development of Captive Jetties, non-major ports, and non-nationalised inland waterways. Employment generated by the Dhamra Port from Sep‟18 – Mar‟23: 6,315 Estimated employment generation by other non-major Ports &
Captive Jetty at Jatadhari Muhan: 20,614
The cargo handling capacity of Odisha has increased by 8 times from FY 2000-01 (19.9 MMTPA) till FY 2022-23 (160 MMTPA).
