NEW DELHI, Jan 16: The Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) announced on Thursday its appeal to the government to designate January 24 as ‘Drivers Day’ to enhance awareness about drivers’ safety, welfare, and recognition.
Last month, ASRTU formally communicated this request to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, as stated in their announcement.
In addition, the association will celebrate its inaugural ‘Drivers Day’ on January 24, 2025, aimed at raising awareness of drivers’ vital roles and fostering discussions on road safety and workers’ welfare.
On April 18, 2023, ASRTU honored 42 drivers from 28 state road transport undertakings during the “Heroes on the Road” event in New Delhi, recognizing their accident-free service that spanned between 7 to 35 years.
As the leading organization for SRTUs, ASRTU focuses on enhancing public transport, sharing best practices, and facilitating cost-effective procurement for its members.
Representing over 150,000 buses operated by SRTUs and special purpose vehicles (SPVs), ASRTU ensures affordable and safe transport for 70 million passengers daily.
ASRTU highlights that if just 1% of the buses operated by SRTUs were involved in accidents each year, resulting in fatalities or injuries, the economic repercussions could exceed Rs 1,500 crore due to direct costs and productivity losses.
This alarming statistic underscores the importance of initiatives like ‘Drivers Day’ that aim to promote the safety, welfare, and acknowledgment of drivers as essential contributors to public transport.
Drivers are not merely vehicle operators; they serve as guardians of public safety and are vital to the economy. T Surya Kiran, Executive Director of ASRTU, emphasized that their commitment warrants global recognition, and ‘Drivers Day’ will honor their significant contributions. (PTI)
