Empowered Group of Transport Mins formed on road policy issues

Amid proposed Road Safety Bill yet to cross hurdles, the Centre today made it clear to state governments that the proposed legislation does not impinge on their rights and formed an empowered group of ministers to advise on policy issues.
"We do not want to snatch your rights. We do not want to take a single penny from your revenue," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told Transport Ministers from various states here today.
Gadkari also announced formation of an Empowered Group of State Transport Ministers to advise on policy issues to make the country's transport sector modern, efficient and transparent.

The Empowered Group will be headed by Yunus Khan, the PWD and Transport Minister of Rajasthan.
Addressing the meeting of the National Road Safety Council and Transport Development Council, Gadkari said the Centre believed on the federal structure and sought cooperation from states for the Road Transport and Safety Bill, saying it aimed at providing safer, faster and cost- effective movement of passengers and freight.
Gadkari said the Bill makes significant departures from the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 as it includes safety in construction, design, maintenance and use of motor vehicles and roads as a major component.

Some states had opposed the bill, saying it encroaches upon their financial, legislative and administrative powers.

The Bill proposes a unified vehicle registration system to enable electronic and online submission of applications for registration at any registering authority leading to real time interchange of data relating to such an activity.
The bill provides for far more stringent penalties to offenders. It seeks to come down heavily on traffic offenders and proposes steep penalties of up to Rs 3 lakh along with a minimum 7-year imprisonment for death of a child in certain circumstances, besides huge fines for driving violations.
The bill also proposes introduction of an independent agency called National Road Safety Authority of India, which will be legally empowered. It shall be accountable to Parliament and central government.

It also provides for establishment of state safety authorities which shall act in accordance with the directions issued by the National Authority.
According to the statement, Mitra "reiterated his
ministry's commitment to facilitate building of a cogent mechanism for safe and seamless road travel in the country."
The issues discussed at the meeting included safety of non motorised vehicles, pedestrians, automobile safety features, public education, strengthening of traffic enforcement and enhancing customer experience in transaction with transport and police department.
As a signatory to Brasilia Declaration, India has expressed its commitment to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020.

"We need urgent reforms to weed out archaic rules and practises so that the road sector can support the high growth rates of the Indian economy," the statement said.
A final call on proposals will be taken by a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Yunus Khan, Minister for Transport, Rajasthan and comprising state Transport Ministers on April 29. Accordingly a roadmap for road safety will be prepared.