'Vehicle registration grew 6.5 times in 11 years in Bihar'

Vehicle registration in Bihar grew 6.5 times in the past 11 years, which signifies the state's economic prosperity, Transport Minister Santosh Kumar Nirala today said in the Assembly.

"There has been increase in the number of registration of vehicles in the past several years. This symbolises economic and social prosperity of the state. A total of 1,47,309 vehicles were registered in 2006-07 while the registration of vehicle has gone up to 9,50,120 by the end of February 2018. The state has witnessed an average 17.44 per cent growth in registration of vehicles," Nirala said.

He was speaking during a debate on his department's budgetory allocation of Rs 122.69 crore for 2018-19 which was subsequently passed by the treasury benches amid walk out by RJD members while demanding the arrest of two union ministers -- Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey -- for allegedly sparking communal tension.

He said the transport department's revenue collection has gone up to Rs 1,256.73 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 200 crore in 2006-07.

Against the department's revenue collection target of Rs 1,800 crore for 2017-18, it has been able to rake in Rs 1,304.92 crore by the end of February 2018, he said.

He said the government is commited to reduce the number of road accidents for which speed governors will be installed in commercial vehicles which will restrict the maximum speed of vehicles to 40 km per hour.

Admitting that shortage of trained drivers is one of the main reasons for road accidents in the state, Nirala said that a modern driving training-cum-research institute has been established at a cost of Rs 25.15 crore in Patna which will be made functional soon.

Earlier, as the House met after lunch recess at 2 pm, RJD members led by Bhai Virendra raised the matter of alleged communal polarisation by two union ministers hailing from the BJP and demanded their arrest.

RJD members trooped into the well and started shouting anti government slogans.

RJD members created a ruckus that continued for 13 minutes before the Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary adjoured the House till 4:50 pm.

When the House met again for government's reply on Transport department's debate on budgetary allocation for 2018-19, RJD members walked out of the House raising the same demand.