The Rajya Sabha on Monday began debate on the long-pending Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2017 that seeks to bring in many key changes in fines for traffic violations, new Road Safety Boards, changes in driving license and so on.
The debate could not be completed at the end of the day and will resume on Tuesday.
Opening the discussion, BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said that over 1,70,000 people have lost their lives in road accidents in 2014. The fatalities are increasing every year.
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“The Bill has gone through due scrutiny, with [Road Transport and Highways] Minister Nitin Gadkari himself explaining each statute to the select committee. ,” said BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Manish Gupta opposed the Bill saying it is “overly centralised”.
“We have to move towards eliminating permits, but this Bill is adding more permits,” he said. The Bill seeks to provide a National Transportation Authority. This is unnecessary as States handle it now,” he added. He added that the Bill will push out small transport operators and lead to corporates taking over transport, Mr. Gupta states.
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Biju Janata Dal MP Pratap Keshari Deb said the State Transport Ministers were given a draft Bill and the provisions that were added by the select committee were not sent back to the States. He also points out none of the amendments were taken up in the Select Committee. “All States cannot be viewed by same prism as they are different. The Bill also robs revenue generated by the States,” Mr Deb said.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 10, 2017, and is pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Upper House is expected to take up this Bill for debate and passing in the ongoing Monsoon Session.