Now the disabled veterans could buy adapted cars through CSD

Ministry of Defence, government of India decides to provide adapted / modified cars through CSD (Canteen Stores Department) to disabled defence personnel.

Giving big relief to a large number of disabled defence personnel, the Ministry of Defence has decided to provide the automatic driven cars or cars which are suitably modified to meet their requirements through the CSD canteen stores. 

The move will enable them to procure the cars at subsidized rate which is much below the market price. 

Sources said that after the direction of the Ministry of Defence, the canteen stores department has written to all the major car manufacturing companies to send their proposals to the department for the enlistment.

The General Manager of the CSD stores has written to the Hyundai, Maruti, Ford , Toyata, Nisssan, General Motors etc for providing the detail of the cars useful for the disabled personnel. 

The letter has said, “Representation has been received from Disabled War Veterans for introduction of automatic driven cars. In order to meet social obligation stipulated under Disability Act all companies are requested to send their proposal.” The copy has also been sent to Col HN Honda president of the Association. 

Colonel ( Retired ) SK Agrawal disabled army officers has said that many cars are available in the market which are specially designed for the disabled personnel but the disabled persons cannot buy them due to their high prices. 

He said that if these cars are made available in the CSD stores then large number of the disable personnel can be benefited by the decision

There are large numbers of the disabled ex-servicemen residing in different parts of the county. 

Lt Colonel (Retd) SS Sohi, President Ex-Servicemen Grievance Cell said that the time has come to give their due to the war disabled. The move to provide the cars from the CSD will help them to live with dignity and pride. 

Companies are manufacturing cars for keeping in mind with different disabilities. Hand controlled cars are suitable for physically challenged people. Hand controls can make driving much easier with more control and faster response times. These cars have hand operated brake and accelerator and hand operated clutch.

Source: Daily Post India 

Ahmedabad BRT - a "Light House Project" - United Nation

NEW DELHI: The United Nations has chosen Ahmedabad's Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) as a showcase project to highlight that addressing climate change is not a burden, but an opportunity to improve the lives of people.

The 51-km BRTS will be highlighted as a 'lighthouse project' as part of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Momentum for Change Initiative at the Doha round of negotiations to be held later this month. The initiative was launched by the UN Secretary General at the 2011 Durban round of the UN-sponsored climate change negotiations. The "lighthouse projects" are an attempt to "transform the impression of slow progress in negotiations, into a positive can do environment that recognizes action and progress".

As people need to travel longer distances to work or for leisure, there has been a rapid rise in the vehicular traffic, especially as public transport systems in India's cities have been unable to cater to the rising demand. There is an annual 15% rise in the passenger-km that Indians travel, and a 10% increase in the sale of vehicles particularly cars to meet the requirement, according to official data. Transport has become one of the chief sources of rising emission.

Rising pollution, congested cities, larger imports of petroleum resulting in rising prices of petrol and diesel has prompted cities such as Ahmedabad to look for ways to address the crisis on the roads. The Ahmedabad BRTS, which began as pilot project on a 12.5 kilometre stretch in July 2009, has emerged as an example of how a planned commuting system can help reduce emissions and improve air quality as well as have a positive impact on urban development.

"The city of Ahmedabad, which flanks both banks of the Sabarmati river, has many bridges. About ten years ago, we had a pollution situation that made visibility poor. You just couldn't see the bridges. The pollution was so bad that if you were driving on the bridge or waiting at a red light your eyes would water. So around 2002-03, the city moved to CNG, which improved matters. The next step was to improve public transport," said Akhil Brambhatt, deputy general manager, Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd.

The Ahmedabad BRTS or Janmarg is part of this effort. In the three years of its existence it has expanded to 51 km. Some 20% to 22% of commuters, who were using two-wheelers to commute, have moved to the bus system. The Janmarg's success comes even as Delhi's attempt at introducing a BRTS failed. Ahmedabad learnt its lesson from the nation's capital's mistake. "We took a lot of care in the route selection. Our slogan was simple-avoid busy roads but connect busy places," Brambhatt explained.

For the first three months, the Ahmedabad BRTS was run as a free service. People used the service out of curiosity and well because it was free. The doors were opened to suggestions, and many of these were incorporated into the working of the system. Even when it became a paid service, the charges were low. Brambhatt points out that the minimum fare of 3 for a 2-km trip is among the lowest in the country. The minimum fare in Delhi is 5.

Source: Times of India