Transport nagars mooted for Paonta Sahib, Kala Amb

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 20

In a bid to provide parking and other facilities to transporters, the Sirmaur district administration has proposed transport nagars in the twin industrial clusters of Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb.

Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner RK Pruthi, who has listed the plan in his vision for 2020, said about 70 bigha land had been identified for both places. He said Transport Department officials had been directed to prepare a project report, so that funds could be sought.

About 2,500 trucks, which are plying in both these industrial clusters, have no definite parking place. Since thousands of vehicles ply in these areas on a daily basis, parking of trucks along the road often creates traffic chaos. The creation of transport nagars, which would house allied facilities like auto repair shops replete with all accessories as well as designated parking, will help ease the traffic influx to the towns. Vehicle testing centres and facility to train drivers will also be provided under one roof.

There are over 190 industrial units in the area that employ about 30,000 people. A large number of them come from the neighbouring Haryana and Uttarakhand on a daily basis.

The setting up of transport nagars is an arduous task as the key industrial area of Baddi and Nalagarh could not get this facility though a project report had been prepared and sent to various state and Central agencies for funding years ago.

Sona Chauhan, Regional Transport Officer, Sirmaur, said a transport nagar, having road connectivity, power and water availability, would be set up and options like seeking funds from the state government or floating a project on the public private partnership basis would also be explored.

“Setting up such a facility is the dire need of the area as thousands of trucks transporting industrial goods are parked haphazardly. A project report encompassing all requisite facilities would be prepared and sent to the transport department for seeking funds,” she added.