Defending the new Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said all the criticism was “unfounded.”
“The criticism of the new Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015, in a section of stakeholders, is not founded on reasoning”, said the Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways.
“The draft Bill ensures the adoption of those standards and practices which are geared to tackle law and order problems on road thereby enhancing safety, development of better services to road-users and generation of more employment,” he added.
Gadkari said the provisions in the Bill, which bring in a system of unified licensing system, online license procurements, ending human interface at regional transport offices will bring in the much needed transparency to end corruption.
The Minister said the new Bill does not violate the rights of the States. “As regards Inter-State contract carriage permits, these are envisaged to be issued by the National Transport Authority and the revenues due to each state would be transferred to concerned State on the analogy of National Permit System for goods carriers,” said Gadkari.
“The quantum of fines in the case of law offenders has been brought down from the amount in the earlier draft in view of the paying capacity of the people, except in cases of very serious offence,” he said.