HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Nov 23: BPCL has announced the launch of Drive Fresh, which is an initiative to set up clean and hygienic toilets at their fuel stations along the tourist routes – national parks.
On the eve of World Toilet Day, the inauguration of Drive Fresh – clean and hygienic washrooms at 75 retail outlets across country enroute to prominent national parks including Manas, Nameri, Gir, Tadoba, Singalila, Pench, Sunderbans and others were formally launched in the presence of Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region and Rameshwar Teli, minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Labour & Employment, government of India via a virtual conference.
The project has been initiated under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign for the convenience of the tourists and travelers in order to provide enhanced customer experience.
The inaugural event was organised at retail outlet NES Simlaguri, Baksa district in Assam enroute NH-27 which is at 35 km from Manas National Park. The event was graced by head master of No 31 Dhupguni MV School, Goutam Das in presence of dealer Hirandip Das and BPCL officials Shahid Hussain, territory coordinator, Guwahati and Prathana Das, assistant manager engg, Guwahati. Similar event was organised at NES Balipara on NH-15 located at 17 km from Nameri National Park in Sonitpur district and was graced by Rajeev Bora, inspector of Legal Metrology, Sonitpur, Sarangapani Saikia, SDE, APDCL, Balipara Electrical sub-division, Dhruba Prasad Kurmi, member of Balipara Anchalik Panchayat, Dipu Bora, O/C Chariduar police station, Rajesh Pandia, general secretary, Balipara Merchant Association along dealer Niranjan Nath and BPCL official Saurav Sen, assistant manager sales, Tezpur. These retail outlets will offer best in class convenience benefitting tourists visiting the national parks. Separate washrooms for gents, ladies and visitors with disabilities have been provided with prominent signages, well illumination, availability of water, proper latching facilities were maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
It has been taken up keeping in mind that national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the country are very popular driving destinations and are frequented by both domestic and international tourists travelling in personal vehicles and in tourist buses and are important halting points for refueling and for use of amenities.