Addressing the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed establishing centres on highways for drivers.
Speaking of the importance of drivers in the automotive ecosystem, he stated that the government will set up a 1000 centres on highways for drivers, to begin with. It will have facilities for eating, resting, and parking and will also go a long way in reducing accidents, the Prime Minister noted.
“Drivers are a big part of the mobility sector, those who drive our trucks, taxis. They drive for long hours. They don’t have time for rest. They are also a victim of road accidents. We understand these concerns,” the Prime Minister stated.
“This (establishing rest centres) will enable drivers to do ease of living and ease of traveling as well,” he added.
Last year, Nitin Gadkari, Union Road Transport Minister had mandated that all truck cabins will have to be mandatorily air conditioned from 2025, to offer comfort to drivers, who usually commute for 11-12 hours at a stretch.
“In our country, some drivers are behind wheels for 12 or 14 hours, whereas in other countries, there is a restriction on the number of hours for bus and truck drivers to be on duty. Our drivers operate vehicles in temperatures of 43 to 47 degrees and we must imagine the condition of drivers. Today, I have signed the file that all trick cabins will be AC cabins,” Gadkari had noted at the time of approving the proposal.