Road Transport Ministry to reduce the fines for traffic violations

A few months after the ministry approved massive hikes in traffic violations fines, it will now reduce them in order to keep a check on the corruption.

We all remember the massive upset it caused when it was introduced a few months ago. The new traffic violation fines terrorised everyone including us. The fines proposed then were ranging between Ra. 2,500 – Rs. 20,000, and that made people sceptical of the fact that it will initiate a new era of corruption in the traffic police department. Well, now the things have started to look better in this regard. After the Prime Minister asked the ministry to reconsider the hike a few weeks ago, the ministry led by Nitin Gadkari will reduce the bracket between Rs. 500 and Rs. 5,000. This will not only make it smoother for the system to function better, but also make people have more faith in the system.

The ministry is also serious about important issues like issuing new licences as there is no stringent check on the test people have to undergo before they ‘earn’ a licence to drive on the Indian roads. Issuing permits and fitness certificates will also happen with minimal human intervention.

“The minister strongly supported the need to increase the fine for repeat offences so that the first time offender is warned how he has to shell out more for committing next offence. We are reworking the fines for second and every successive offence. The fine is being tweaked so that the provisions of the law can be enforced. We will soon move a Cabinet note on the bill,” an official from the ministry said.

Source: Economic Times