Minister for Road, Transport, and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said Wednesday safety of people is the responsibility of states.
He was speaking in response to the Gujarat government slashing fines under the new amended Motor Vehicles Act.
In an interview to national television news channel he added, “To those states who are refusing to enforce the fines isn’t life more important than money? This was done to save lives.”
The BJP-ruled Gujarat announced Wednesday reduction of traffic violation fines by 90 percent.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the steep penalties pushed by the centre under the amended law are too harsh and so her government would not apply it in the state.
Nitin Gadkari was asked whether states would be forced to fall in line. He said, “…those who want to enforce it can do it. Those who don’t, need not.”
Referring to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani the minister said, “If he thinks he can do that, then maybe he was taken a considered decision.”
Nitin Gadkari talked about road accident data and said each year about 1,50,000 people lose their lives in road accidents and they are mostly in the age group of 18-35 years.
The minister defended the hefty fines in the new amended law saying these are drafted after studying the laws of other countries like Canada, United States and Argentina.
Talking about people on roads he said those who do not violate traffic rules should not fear.
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