At a crossroads: On Motor Vehicles Act (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level : Motor Vehicles Act
Mains level : Proposed changes made in this Motor Vehicles Act

Context

• India’s Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has remained in hibernation, unable to meet the needs of a large economy that is witnessing rising travel demand, fast-paced motorisation, major shifts in technology and deteriorating road safety.
• The amendments to the Act voted by Parliament seek to address some of these challenges, notably in forming a National Transportation Policy and a National Road Safety Board, providing for stiffer penalties for violation of rules, and orderly operation of new-generation mobility services that use mobile phone applications.

Suggested amendments made by the government

• Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has countered the charge that the changes are anti-federal in character the proposed amendments were reviewed by 18 State Transport Ministers, and the Bill reflects the modifications they suggested.
• Also, the Rajya Sabha introduced last-minute changes, making concurrence of, rather than consultation with States necessary when issuing fresh schemes for national, multimodal, and inter-State transport.
• This new provision also includes last mile connectivity, accessibility, mobility as a whole and rural transport.
• There is a dire need for reform in these areas, and State governments have tended to ignore these aspects.
• During the previous NDA government, Mr. Gadkari blamed obstruction by a ‘corrupt’ Regional Transport Office system for the delay in amending the MV Act.
• An amendment in the Rajya Sabha allows for RTOs to visit dealerships to register vehicles. This is not much of a change over the practice of dealers taking vehicles to RTO offices.
• The onus is on States to show that the purchaser will not have to pay a bribe.

Way ahead

• The Centre must deliver on its promise that the amended Act will help reduce dependence on personal vehicles, and present its National Transport Policy without delay.
• States must be incentivised to provide clean, comfortable and affordable services for all users, including people with disabilities.
• It is relevant to point out that the National Urban Transport Policy of the UPA failed to achieve this.
• Union minister emphasis is on structural reform and an upgrade to subsidised electric buses for low-cost air-conditioned travel.
• But State Transport Corporations must adopt modern management practices.

Conclusion

• New regulation can certainly shake up the status quo, facilitating transparent investment by any intending operator and removing vested interests, particularly in inter-State and multi-State coach services. But some of the other amendments are less promising.
• A sharp increase in fines has little chance of improving safety.
• Studies show that sustained, zero tolerance enforcement of even small fines reduces violations, while stringent penalties are either not enforced or lead to more bribery.

  Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the “Ghar Ghar Dastak Ghar Ghar Pustak”, consider the following statements:
1. It is an initiative of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.
2. Under this scheme, books will be provided to the residents of slums, resettlement colonies and rural areas in all over the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both
D. None

Answer: D
Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the proposed changes made in the Motor Vehicles Act can help to reform India’s transport sector?