Convert roadways into department: Minister writes to Rajasthan CM | Jaipur News

JAIPUR: Transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas has sent a proposal to the government to convert the Rajasthan roadways corporation into a department because of the continuous losses over the years.
According to the proposal, the corporation should be converted into a department so that the salaries of the employees and pensions along with the benefits of the retired staff can be paid in a timely manner which are usually released after a delay of at least one month. The roadways was a department prior to 1964 following which it has been working as a corporation. The employees union also support this conversion.
Khachariyawas said, “I have written to chief minister Ashok Gehlot about conversion of roadways into a department as at present it is running into losses. Roadways has also has properties running into thousands of crores which can be used for better purposes which is not being done now. Moreover, retired employees are still to get the benefits and some of them have even died but roadways has been unable to give them their due.”
According to the proposal sent by the minister, the roadways is still running buses on routes which have negligible passengers and incurring losses. The proposal further said that inclusion of around 2000 buses on rural routes which otherwise have been neglected till now, would ensure better public transport facilities for the locals. Meanwhile, roadways employees union also support the conversion and their union, United Front’s state convener M L Yadav said, “If the roadways is converted into a department and comes directly under the government then at least we will get our payments on time. We have been protesting about the same since July and especially during this pandemic time, the delayed salaries as well as pensions are taking a toll on us. We want a systematic solution to this issue.”