Through their initiative, the state government aims to provide indirect job opportunities to over 20,000 people under the CM Swarozgar Yojana.

Queues of vehicles, which at times extend to over 5 km, are witnessed at entry points of most hill stations such as Mussoorie and Nainital during the peak tourist season. In a major decision, the Uttarakhand cabinet on Thursday approved motorcycle taxi service in the state and directed the transport department to frame the guidelines.

One can now either hire a motorcycle or take the services of a rider to move around in the hill stations. The cooperative banks will provide a loan of Rs 60,000 to an individual and the state government will pay the interest for the period of two years.

Through their initiative, the state government aims to provide indirect job opportunities to over 20,000 people under the CM Swarozgar Yojana.

Urban development minister and state government spokesperson Madan Kaushik said, “Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Bageshwar and Tehri see tourist rush each season and the movement of four-wheelers congest the hill towns. This project will help reduce the traffic issues and at the same time provide job opportunities to youths.”

On being asked about the details of the project, he said that the transport department has been issued directions to frame guidelines for the project. “We will have both the facilities. If a person wants to hire a two-wheeler, he will be provided one and the tourist will also have the facility to hire a rider,” said the minister.

In other major decisions, the cabinet announced to double the bus fare in city routes of the state. Due to social distancing norms, buses were operating with half capacity leading to financial losses and also making people to take taxi or three wheelers, which cost more for the journey. According to the new tariff, the rate for the first 2 km was Rs 7 and it has been increased to Rs 14. Ticket for travel of 2 to 6 km was for Rs 10 and it has now been doubled to Rs 20, for 6 to 10 km the rate has gone from Rs 15 to Rs 30, for 10 to 14 km.

Similarly, the bus fare for AC buses and private buses too have been raised by the state cabinet. “However, these increased rates will be applicable only till the time social distancing norms are in place due to Covid-19,” said Kaushik.

Under the CM Swarozgar Yojna, the state cabinet has approved a proposal to provide collateral free loan to roadside shop owners and people selling products on ‘thela.’ Through the initiative, the government intends to provide job opportunity to 50,000 people. Besides, the subsidy provided on the loan by the Centre, the state government has also announced a 2% loan subsidy for people availing the opportunity.

The cabinet has also eased the norms for the use of funds under the State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRF). “The guidelines from the Centre were extremely tough and we had requested them to ease the norms for the use of funds. After the nod, we have eased the norms and now the SDRF can be used for making and repairing culverts, trek routes, check dams, drinking water works, school repair and irrigation works,” Kaushik said.