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LS backs Bill to impose heavy penalty on traffic violators

A bill to "save lives" by ushering in radical reforms in the motor vehicles law to slap heavy penalty on traffic violators, protecting good samaritans and making vehicle-makers responsible for design defects to cut road accidents, on Friday drew support from all sections of the Lok Sabha. The basic aim of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 is "to save human lives", Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said, adding that a whopping five lakh accidents took place every year claiming around 1.5 lakh lives across the country.

Moving the bill for consideration and passage, Gadkari said it would bring about much-needed reforms in the transport and road sectors through 'maximum governance with minimum government'. It also addresses issues like third party insurance and regulation of taxi aggregators.

Cutting across party lines, members complimented Gadkari for taking the views of all stakeholders in drafting the "comprehensive" bill. However, many of them made suggestions on certain provisions as Congress member K C Venugopal said some of them were "very, very good".

"Even if you are a minister and you violate the traffic rules, a letter (citing a penalty) will come to your home," Gadkari said.

Gadkari receives praise from Opposition

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday came in for praise in the Lok Sabha from the Opposition whose members said he is "sincere" and has "impressive performance".

During a debate on the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016, members complimented Gadkari for doing a "very good job". Congress leader KC Venugopal, while heaping praise on Gadkari, said he has been a very "sincere" minister who has been trying hard to address major challenges facing the road transport sector.

BJD member Tathagata Satpathy said Gadkari is a "hard working person" who is hell bent on proving that good work can be done even if the government is bad.
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