HYDERABAD: While the amendments to the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 2016, seem atrocious to a common man, it is as simple as a minor modification to the existing software for the enforcing authority. The bill is expected to clear the last lap with ease, not everyone concerned is happy.
“We do not know how we will pay the fines, as such we are operating in losses. We so far only know about the hike in fines and find them very unreasonable. If the MVA is stacked against our self interest, we will be left with no choice but to protest,” said N Bhaskar Reddy, president, Telangana State Lorry Drivers Association.
On the other hand, Vinod K Kanumala, chief functionary at Indian Federation of Road Safety, maintains that “The heavy fines for traffic violators is a really good move but the enforcement departments should act seriously.”
Further, he added that the families of victims who have died in road accidents are not satisfied with the amendments as there hardly is anything for them. More focus should have been given to bring more accountability and better monetary assistance. We can hope for positive move in the Rajya Sabha, he added.
Meanwhile, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) whole-heartedly welcomed the passing of the bill. “We can only comment about the bill once we get a notification from the central government,” said Panduranga Naik, Joint Transport Commissioner with RTA for Hyderabad.
On their part, traffic cops hope hefty fines work as a deterrent to traffic violations. DCP (Traffic)-Hyderabad, AV Ranganath raised a word of caution about the possibility of increased corruption. “I hope steep fines works as a deterrent but at the same time we have to be guarded due to issues of corruption.
We need to have a transparent system in place. Hyderabad police has a system where no money is collected at the spot. People have to pay the fines at post office or bank,” said AV Ranganath, Deputy Traffic Commissioner, Hyderabad.
Spokespersons for taxi unions say, they are yet to fully grasp the particulars of ride sharing applications under the ambit of the law.
However, the head of public policy for Uber, Shweta Rajpal Kohli said, “This is a transformative piece of legislation and marks the official recognition of the ridesharing industry in India. Many of the provisions laid down in the bill are visionary and have the potential to change the urban mobility landscape of the country.”