AC cabins in Trucks: AC cabin will be mandatory for drivers in trucks, Union Minister Gadkari said this.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that air-conditioned (AC) cabin for drivers in trucks will soon be made mandatory. On the occasion of the release of ‘Desh Chalak’, a book based on Indian drivers, Gadkari said that the role of drivers in the transport sector is important. It is the most important sector for India as the fastest growing large economy in the world.

He said that there is a need for quick resolution of issues related to the working and mental state of the drivers. The Union Minister expressed grief over the fact that the truck drivers have to work in the scorching heat. He said, I have been pushing the issue of AC cabin for truck drivers for a long time. Some people oppose it and say that it will increase the cost. But before coming here I have signed the file that henceforth the driver’s cabins in the trucks will be air-conditioned.

Need to improve the working conditions of drivers

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stressed on the need to improve the working conditions of drivers and said that steps need to be taken to address the shortage of drivers by setting up more driving schools. Gadkari said that due to shortage of drivers, drivers in India are working continuously for 14-16 hours, while in other countries their working hours are fixed.

He said that India has emerged as the fastest growing economy in the world and for this logistics is very important. To increase India’s exports, there is a need to reduce the cost of logistics. Gadkari said that our logistics cost is 14-16 per cent as compared to the rest of the world. In China it is 8-10 percent, in European countries and America it is 12 percent. If we have to increase exports, we have to cut down on logistics cost.