india

Updated: Jul 24, 2019 00:58 IST

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Motor Vehicles (amendment) Bill that seeks to weed out corruption, improve road safety, promote the use of technology to regulate traffic and bring down the number of deaths as a result of road accidents.

To allay the concerns of the opposition parties, the government assured the House that rights of the states would not be taken away.

Several members cutting across party lines supported safety and traffic violation aspects of the bill but accused the Centre of trying to take away state’s powers with certain provisions of the draft law.

The bill was passed by the 16th Lok Sabha, but lapsed with the dissolution of the House after it failed to get the Rajya Sabha nod.

The bill proposes a National Transportation Policy for formulating guidelines on the transportation of goods and passengers.

Transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said he will “not to show any dream” but fulfill promises made on better, smoother roads and latest transport technology.

He announced that the ministry would bring an end to the system of road monitoring being undertaken by independent engineers and it would be carried out by companies with experts.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Kanimozhi said Gadkari may have assured the Opposition that it is up to states to follow many provisions of the bill, but it was not enough as governments are liable to change with time.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy called for taking measures to reduce the number of cars on roads in big cities and encouraging people to shift to mass transport.

Prataprao Jhadav of the Shiv Sena, an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the government should ensure that there is no infringement on autonomy of states.

S Jothimani of the Congress said the bill seems to be infringing upon power of states and the minister should look into the issue.