(ET)
The Centre has no objection on states bringing down penalties for traffic violation under the new Motor Vehicles Act, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari said. Gadkari said that states are free to make changes in penalties given the subject is the concurrent list. This comes as several states have objected to implementing the new Motor Vehicles Act in totality, which led penalties for traffic violations increase manifold from September 1.
The Gujarat state government has slashed the new fines by up to 90%, citing humanitarian grounds. Tamil Nadu government has also decided to bring down penalties under the new Act. Gadkari said that the idea to levy hefty fines was not to earn revenue but to discipline road users.
