PANAJI
The State government will soon have to implement the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act even as the central government has shown no intention of reducing the penalty for offences.
Confirming this, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho who attended a video conference convened by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, said it abundantly made clear that Centre will pursue implementation of the new Act in its existing format in order to break the bad habits ingrained among the Indian masses using the roads.
Speaking to media after attending the video conference, Godinho stated, "during the meeting, I appraised Gadkari that the penalty structure of new Motor Vehicles Act has received a lot of opposition. However, Gadkari has said that Centre will not reduce the penalties as they have been done to change people's habits."
The Centre's refusal to back down on the new MV Act also needs to be read in light of the fact that it was framed following due consultations with transport ministers from 20 different states.
Gadkari urged all States to implement the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, without any exceptions.
Explaining this stance, Godinho stated, "I have taken directions from Union Minister. He has made it very clear that there is no other alternative and all States must follow."
Godinho further informed that he has moved a Cabinet note on the MV Act for the second time for the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday. The State government is expected to take a final call on implementation of the new MV Act during this crucial Cabinet meeting after deferring the same twice previously. “We have tried to reduce the fines and make it bare minimum”, he added.
Meanwhile, Gadkari also discussed seamless transportation to encourage tourism in the country with an online permit.
Other issues that were discussed were giving immediate relief for road accidents victims, tackling issues of road safety in the State, identifying dark spots and suggesting remedial measures and making
efforts to encourage digitization.
It may be recalled that the implementation of the new Motor Vehicles Act was put off by the State on two occasion citing bad roads and infrastructure. Ports minister Michael Lobo had also come out against implementing the new traffic rules.
The Act was amended by the Parliament in July 2019 to impose steep fines on routine offences committed by vehicle users which eventually disrupt discipline and safety on Indian roads.
BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Karnataka have already announced slashing of some of the penalties prescribed by the amended law, which is aimed at bringing down road accidents.
