NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has identified at least 61 amendments to the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, which are likely to be introduced in Parliament during the upcoming Budget Session, subject to Cabinet approval.
Before the Cabinet’s nod, the proposed revisions will be examined by a sub-committee chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, constituted for this purpose. The amendments covering issues such as decriminalisation of provisions, simplified definitions, emission regulations, and harmonisation with global standards were recently discussed at the annual meeting of transport ministers from all states and Union Territories (UTs) held in New Delhi.
With these changes, the government aims to make certain Central guidelines mandatory for states, a move expected to enhance uniformity and enforcement in road safety, vehicle regulation, and transport policy.
“All the proposed amendments were placed before the transport ministers of states and UTs and discussed. Some suggestions have come from them as well as from the secretary, MoRTH. There is a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Rajnath Singh. These suggestions will go to that committee and thereafter be taken to the Cabinet for approval,” said minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari.
He added that the major amendments focus on improving road safety, ease of doing business, citizen services, regulatory frameworks, mobility, emission norms, simplified definitions and language, and harmonisation with global standards.
According to the ministry, the amendments are necessary to create a safer and more efficient transport system, address the rising number of road fatalities, update outdated regulations, improve the insurance framework, promote digitalisation for easier compliance, curb alleged corruption through streamlined processes, and regulate new-age players such as cab aggregators.
Elaborating on provisions aimed at ease of doing business, Gadkari said the transport sector currently has multiple penalties and fines, and in some cases, criminal laws are invoked. Under the proposed changes, individuals would be able to approach designated officers directly instead of going to court.
“There were 58 clauses and we have removed them. Now, you will go directly to the officer. If he does not make a decision within 42 days, the case will be closed. There will be transparency, and pendency in small courts will end,” he said.
Sources in the ministry said the push for amendments also stems from the concurrent nature of motor vehicle legislation, under which both the Centre and states are empowered to legislate. However, the Centre is concerned that delays or inaction by states on certain issues often result in a legal vacuum, leading to key reforms and safety measures not being implemented uniformly across the country.
With the proposed amendments, the Government aims to make some Central guidelines mandatory for states and are expected to improve uniformity and enforcement in road safety, vehicle regulation, and transport policy, added the sources.