This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.
NewsLok SabhaMotor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2016Nitin Gadkari

Lok Sabha Passes Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2016

"No bogus driving licenses would be made and there would be no theft of the vehicles once there is e-governance."
PTI
|
Open Image Modal
Stringer India / Reuters

NEW DELHI -- A bill to unleash radical reforms in the transport sector by ensuring 100% e-governance, checking bogus driving licenses and vehicle thefts, slapping heavy penalty on traffic violators and protecting the good samaritan was approved by the Lok Sabha on Monday.

All efforts would be made to eliminate corruption in the sector, Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari said while replying to a discussion on the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016, claiming that "no bogus driving licenses would be made and there would be no theft of the vehicles once there is e-governance."

The bill was passed by a voice vote after several opposition amendments were rejected, including one moved by a CPI(M) member on enhancing the compensation in case of accidents, was defeated by 37 votes in favour and 221 against.

There should be uniformity in the rules concerning issuance of driving licenses, the minister said, adding that through "e-governance, there would be provision of electronic registration."

The bill seeks to "save lives" by ushering in radical reforms in the motor vehicles law to slap heavy penalty on traffic violators, protecting good samaritans and making vehicle-makers responsible for design defects to cut road accidents.

The basic aim of the Bill is "to save human lives",as a whopping five lakh accidents take place every year claiming around 1.5 lakh lives across the country.

"Once we (BJP) complete five years, we would be able to save 50% lives lost due to road accidents. We are working towards it," Gadkari said.

The minister said once the changes are incorporated in the law, it would be impossible for anyone including VIPs like politicians to obtain driving license without tests. "Even as a minister I would not be able to obtain driving license sitting at home," Gadkari stressed.

On a specific opposition amendment on compensation which was defeated by 221 votes against to 37 in favour, Gadkari said it would not be possible to increase the compensation in case of death to Rs 20 lakh as it would entail substantial hike in insurance premium. The amendment was moved by CPI-M member Sankar Prasad Datta.

Stressing that any kind of corruption would not be tolerated in the transport sector, he said "we will have to bring online governance to put an end to the corruption.

Corruption would not be tolerated and we are firm on this."

Observing that was corruption at the state check posts and the Centre was in touch with state to deal with the issue.

The bill seeks to make services like issuance of license totally transparent and online and provides for punitive action against officials in case of delay in issuing of the document to eligible applicants.

Under the new system, every one will have to go to the license issuing authorities under a uniform procedure and if the license is not issued in 3 days, then the RTO will have to face action. A learner's license can be availed online sitting at home.

Responding to the concerns of members, he said there would be no cap on compensation to be paid by insurance companies to the victims of road accidents.

Also on HuffPost India:

Colour Of Your Walls
Red and orange living room(01 of03)
Open Image Modal
Yellow stimulates positivity and optimism, which makes it a great choice for kitchens. But it's easy to overdo citrus tones, so try not to go overboard. Yellow also works to make a small kitchen seem larger. In fact, any light shade (e.g. white and pastel colours) with occasional dark accents would do a great job of expanding your kitchen's perceived dimensions, and making it a cheerful, inviting place for a cookout with friends and family. (credit:archideaphoto via Getty Images)
country bedroom(02 of03)
Open Image Modal
Your bedroom is your place of calmness and relaxation. It's where you let go of all the stresses that fill your day, and unwind as sleep takes over. Some colours that encourage relaxation are lavender and pink. Green is another option; it relaxes the eyes and has an association with freshness and nature, which makes it ideal for bedrooms and even bathrooms. Since bedroom and bathroom colours tend to be on the lighter side, ensure that you choose a paint that offers good washability and stain-resistance properties. (credit:lienkie via Getty Images)
Modern kitchen(03 of03)
Open Image Modal
The living room is the first thing a visitor sees in your home, so ensure that it makes a great impression. Experts recommend using shades of orange and red for living rooms. These colours are warm and welcoming, and create the right mood for having conversations. Having beautiful, high-definition colours in your living room gives you the confidence to invite friends home more often and impress them with your sense of style. (credit:hemul75 via Getty Images)

Related

Lok SabhaMotor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2016newsNitin Gadkaritransport sector
Suggest a correction
-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.