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Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Noida transport department hires agency to boost social media reach
Noida: The Noida transport department has hired a private agency to boost its official reach on social media after the UP government sanctioned ₹4 lakh for it, officials said on Tuesday. Transport officials said that social media is primarily being used to raise public awareness about road safety and traffic rules. (HT Archives) 'The step has been taken to put more information to the public on their fingertips through official social media handles,' said Siyaram Verma, assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) (administration), Noida. 'The move to boost social media presence was decided after a meeting was chaired by transport commissioner BN Singh. The sanctioned amount will support this effort. A professional agency has now been hired to handle the official pages of the transport department in Noida.' Verma, however, clarified that these platforms are intended only to share information, not grievance redressal. 'For that, citizens should contact our helpline at 1800-1800-151 or use our WhatsApp chatbot at 8005441222.' Transport officials said that social media is primarily being used to raise public awareness about road safety and traffic rules. Their posts aim to educate residents on topics such as traffic regulations, enforcement drives, dues on commercial vehicles, school bus safety norms, and vehicle checking campaigns. Currently, the Noida transport department's social media reach includes 2,395 followers on Instagram, 6,500 on Facebook, 283 on X, and 104 subscribers on YouTube.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
15-0.5% in 6 months: Technology helps UP slash its licence backlog
Noida: UP has drastically cut its backlog of pending driving licence applications through tighter monitoring and greater use of technology, the state's transport commissioner, BN Singh, said. Official data shows the pendency rate fell to just 0.5% between Jan 1 and June 10, from an earlier 15%. According to data from the transport department, the Ghaziabad RTO region, which includes Noida, Hapur, Ghaziabad, and Bulandshahr, received 24,115 applications in this period, with only 15 cases still pending. The pendency rate is just 0.06%. Data shows a total of 7,889 applications were cleared, with only one application pending. More than 90% of districts have maintained pendency levels below 0.5 percent. Transport commissioner attributed this progress to consistent departmental oversight and impactful awareness campaigns run via social media and other platforms. The commissioner said that the transport department recently launched a 24x7 WhatsApp chatbot service to make transport-related services more accessible. "Citizens now receive step-by-step guidance on applying for learner and permanent licences, checking challans, requesting NOCs, or requesting new vehicles through the chatbot at 8005441222. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo This also significantly increased awareness among people," the commissioner said. The chatbot currently lacks a payment gateway, so users can only retrieve information and make transactions. Siyaram Verma, ARTO (administration), Noida, explained that applicants can apply for a driving licence through the Parivahan portal, where they can submit an application form and pay the required fee. A driving test slot is then assigned, and if the applicant passes the driving test, the licence is issued—typically within 10 to 15 days.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Cams to keep eye on pumps: From Nov 1, no fuel for old vehicles in Noida & Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: Starting Nov 1, fuel stations across the city will use automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to deny fuel to end-of-life (EOL) vehicles. The regional transport office (RTO) will install the ANPR cameras at 222 fuel stations across Noida and Ghaziabad before Oct 31, to restrict the refueling of end-of-life vehicles, in compliance with the directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) from Nov 1. A decision on who will bear the cost of the cameras, whether the govt, transport department, or fuel station operators, is yet to be made. Regional transport officer, Ghaziabad, PK Singh, said the department has received the directive from CAQM and is currently working on a detailed report and budget estimate for the proposed installation. The CAQM, in its directive dated April 23, highlighed the need to phase out older, highly polluting vehicles, particularly those conforming to outdated BS III and BS II emission standards. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years in the NCR in 2015, but enforcement remains weak. As of March 2025, Uttar Pradesh has 12.69 lakh such vehicles — Noida has 1.8 lakh EOL vehicles, of which 1.5 lakh petrol vehicles are older than 15 years, and 30,000 diesel vehicles older than 10 years, and Ghaziabad has around 2.4 lakh EOL vehicles including 1.9 lakh petrol and 50,000 diesel units. Despite this, only 3,058 and 1,934 EOL vehicles were impounded in 2023 and 2014, respectively. CAQM directed NCR states to install ANPR cameras at fuel stations to block EOL vehicles. Delhi must comply by June 30, 2025, while high-density NCR districts (Ghaziabad, GB Nagar, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat) have until Oct 31, 2025. Remaining NCR districts must meet the deadline by April 1, 2026. From July 1, 2025, Delhi fuel stations will deny fuel to EOL vehicles, while other key NCR cities will enforce the rule from Nov 1, from Noida and Ghaziabad, cities like Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Hapur, Shamli, and Muzaffarnagar also fall under the NCR region. However, many commuters from Western Uttar Pradesh areas such as Aligarh, Agra, Mathura, etc, frequently travel to Noida and Delhi. Vehicles registered in these districts are not currently covered by the ban, which could lead to complications if they enter Noida or Ghaziabad. Noida ARTO (administration) Siyaram Verma said since the initiative is still in its early stages, they are yet to discuss what to do with vehicles from other districts. "We will discuss this issue in our next meeting. Once enforced, we hope the message will soon spread far and wide," he added. Reacting to the directive, Dharamveer Chaudhury, general secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Petroleum Traders Association, said the transport department has not yet held any discussions with the traders' body, and traders alone cannot ensure its enforcement. "Customers can sometimes turn aggressive when denied fuel. The department and police should convene a meeting to discuss the measures," he said. Meanwhile, Noida has implemented a "no helmet, no fuel" policy effective from Jan 26, 2025, aiming to enhance road safety by ensuring that two-wheeler riders and their pillion passengers wear helmets. This directive mandates fuel station operators to deny service to helmetless riders and to display informative hoardings about the rule. Additionally, petrol pumps are required to maintain functional CCTV cameras to monitor compliance and address any disputes.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Post Lucknow bus blaze: 47 buses seized, ₹30L fined in Noida
Noida The Gautam Budh Nagar Transport Department has seized 47 private passenger buses and issued challans totalling nearly ₹30 lakh to 35 of them for rules' violations, officials said on Monday. The step followed an Uttar Pradesh transport commissioner directive issued in the light of a Delhi-bound private sleeper bus, running without permit, catching fire on the outskirts of Lucknow on May 15, leaving five people dead. 'Following the directive, we formed a five-member team under the supervision of the assistant regional transport officer (ARTO - Enforcement) and conducted intensive checks on May 15, 16, and 17,' said Gautam Budh Nagar ARTO Siyaram Verma. 'We are currently conducting a drive against autos and will continue the drive against buses every month with a fortnight's gap, to prevent any untoward incidents,' the ARTO added. The transport department's investigation found that bus owners and operators were overloading their vehicles beyond the prescribed capacity. Such violations significantly increase the risk of accidents, officers said. 'All regional RTOs have been instructed to check buses in accordance with the Bus Body Code — a regulatory framework that lays down uniform technical guidelines for the design, construction, and approval of bus bodies built on chassis by authorised bus body builders,' said UP transport commissioner B N Singh, adding that permits will be cancelled if any bus is found violating the rules. 'ARTOs have been instructed to carry out thorough inspections during the fitness certification process. This includes verifying the Registration Certificate (RC), insurance documents, Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, road tax receipts, permit documents, chassis and engine number, engine performance, starting condition, exhaust emissions, and other parameters to ensure that buses meet safety and regulatory standards,' Singh added. Meanwhile, the investigation in the Lucknow bus incident revealed that an additional seat had been installed near the driver's cabin, blocking the main exit and making it difficult for passengers to escape. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit, and the bus's emergency exit failed to open during the blaze. According to Noida transport department data, there are nearly 5,000 private buses registered with the Transport Department, in addition to 1,900 school buses in the district.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UP Govt launches policy to regulate private bus parking
Noida: The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new policy to regulate bus parking and set up designated bus stands across the state, an official letter said on Wednesday. The initiative, under the Stage Carriage Bus Stand, Contract Carriage and All India Tourist Bus Park (Establishment and Regulation) Policy, 2025, is designed to streamline urban transport—particularly in high-density areas like Noida, where over 5,000 buses, including nearly 1,900 school buses, currently operate without proper parking facilities. Currently, only the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has formal bus stations in Noida and Greater Noida. In contrast, private buses—including stage carriage and contract carriage services—lack access to dedicated stands, resulting in haphazard roadside parking in busy areas such as Sector 37, Sector 62, Botanical Garden, and Pari Chowk. 'The new policy mandates the formation of district-level committees, led by the district magistrate, to oversee the development of government and private bus terminals. These committees will include senior police officials, police commissioner, sub-divisional magistrates, circle officers, and assistant regional transport officers (ARTOs), and will ensure compliance with Transport Department regulations,' the letter added. To encourage private investment in bus parking infrastructure, the policy's eligibility criteria requires the applicants must own a minimum of two acres of land with at least seven metres of road access and possess at least two years of experience managing similar facilities. 'Approved layouts must reserve 70% of the area as open space and 30% for covered structures, and must include essential amenities such as waiting rooms, toilets, drinking water, food canteens, CCTV systems, public announcement systems, and information counters,' the letter added. While acknowledging the policy, assistant regional transport officer (Noida) Siyaram Verma said that 'the facility will be paid and soon a meeting will soon be held under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate to discuss the matter and decide on the necessary actions'. Notably, recognising the scale and population of Uttar Pradesh, the state government sees a critical need for private sector participation at all administrative levels—from blocks and tehsils to districts. This new policy framework aims to provide a structured, sustainable solution to urban transport challenges and ensure smoother traffic flow and better passenger services across the state.
