'Road Safety Bill will not encroach upon rights of states'

The proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill doesn't intend to impinge on the authority of states and is only aimed at providing safer, faster and cost-effective movement of passengers and freight, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said.
As road crashes cause a loss of 3 per cent to GDP every year, the issue demanded an immediate solution and the Bill is a firm step towards this, he said.
"The Road Transport and Safety Bill does not intend to encroach upon the rights of the states," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari told the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry.
Gadkari said the Bill makes significant departures from the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 as the it includes safety in construction, design, maintenance and use of motor vehicles and roads as a major component.

Tamil Nadu had opposed the bill, saying it encroaches upon the financial, legislative and administrative powers of state governments.
Existing provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act envisages that the state government shall establish Motor Vehicles Department and appoint officers for the purpose of implementing the Act but there is no corresponding provision in the draft Bill, Tamil Nadu had said.

Gadkari said there will be 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.
MPs suggested retrofitting of cameras in public transport vehicles by manufacturers and construction of sufficient number of underpasses.

Their suggestions included arrangement for proper electrification around accident prone areas, setting up trauma centres at designated places and taking height and not the age of a child into consideration for the front-seat limitation.
According to an official release, Gadkari said the bill aims to ensure prevention of those road practices which are detrimental to public health and road safety.
The bill provides for far more stringent penalties to offenders. A graded penalty point system would act as a deterrent and improve traffic condition whereas electronic detection and centralised information of offences would facilitate identifying repeat-offenders, he said.
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.
The bill also seeks to establish a unified and transparent driver licensing system. Such a system shall facilitate any time anywhere licence application mechanism in the country and mitigate duplication of licences from various regional transport offices.