The Motor Vehicle Bill will usher in road revolution: Govt

The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, has said that the government is committed to improving safety, efficiency and sustainability in the transport sector.

"Road transport sector has played a major role in driving the rising Indian economy during the last few decades. With major efforts invested towards modernising the country's road infrastructure spread over five million km, the Indian economy has prospered, resulting in higher purchasing power and rising motorisation levels," said the minister, with a warning that "with over 200 million vehicles on our roads and vehicle registration witnessing a rapid increase at the rate of 10 per cent annually, India is faced with serious impacts on road safety levels".

The minister reminded that road safety does not happen on its own, it requires dedicated hard work. "It takes investments of time, knowledge and resources. Governments have a primary role to play in this regard and visible political commitment will mobilise public support and resources for the cause. The Government of India is committed to improving safety, efficiency and sustainability in the transport sector and believes that only a safe system can be sustainable in the long run," said Gadkari, adding that his government fully endorses the "Safe System Approach" being advocated by the United Nations.

"This approach is even more relevant in India, as the problem of safety is also a problem of social equity; here, pedestrians, cyclists and motorised two wheelers compete for space on the road with automobiles, and are most often at the receiving end," he added. The minister reminded that the number of people killed in road accidents in India is the highest in the world; over 1.38 lakh people were killed in around 4.9 lakh road accidents reported in the year 2014. "On taking charge as minister, I have asked for the complete replacement of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, with a legislation, which promotes safety on the road, especially, of the more vulnerable road users, while at the same time, promotes the development of an efficient, seamless and integrated multi-mode public transport system. The Bill envisages creation of a National Road Safety and Traffic Management Authority as the lead agency for vehicle regulation and road safety," said he.

The proposed Bill aims to improve the quality of vehicles on the roads, especially with regard to safety and emissions. It also seeks to usher in a regime of computerised, corruption free and transparent transport authorities, to remove obstacles and inconvenience from the path of road users, in obtaining driving license, registration, payment of taxes, permits, etc, and to promote good driving skills.