Even as the hefty fines on traffic violators under the amended Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) are making news from different parts of the country, Punjab Government on Thursday made it clear that it would continue with the old fines, at least “for the time being”.
The state Transport Minister Razia Sultana, putting all speculations to rest, asserted that for the time being, the provisions of the amended Motor Vehicle Act would not be applicable in the State. “Until any decision is taken on the implementation of amended Motor Vehicle Act, the old fines would be taken from traffic violators in the State,” she said.
The Minister said that ‘transport’ being the state subject, the Punjab Government will exercise its discretion in implementing some of the provisions of the amended Motor Vehicle Act through which the quantum of fine for traffic related violations has been raised many fold.
“Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress Government in the State is very serious in implementing the stricter traffic discipline among the traffic commuters. The Government is also sensitive to the fact that every day number of innocent citizen dies in road accidents,” she clarified.
She maintained that there was “no denying the fact that traffic rule violation is the major cause of road accidents which claims innocents lives every day and commuters must be hammered down to comply to the traffic rules. But, at the same time, citizen must not be reel under the burden of huge penalties”.
“In a welfare state like India, the idea for such kind of penalties is to deter people from violating the traffic rules, not to increase the state treasury,” she said adding that the State Government will soon take a call on the issue.
The Minister pointed that the Congress Government, after coming to power in the state, has taken number of initiatives to curb traffic rules violation.
She cited that recently, the Transport Department has decided to equip the traffic police with E-Challan Machines for on spot challan of the traffic rule violators. Likewise, decision to establish Road Safety Secretariat has been taken which will keep eagle’s eye on vehicular traffic all across the state and it will be responsible for ensuring compliance of Road Safety Norms, she added.