Odisha govt to approach Centre for amendments in new MV Act

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD has said that the Odisha government will approach the Centre for bringing some amendments in the new Motor Vehicles Act because of resentment among people over the hefty fines for violations of traffic rules.
Senior MLA and BJD Spokesperson P K Deb on Sunday said the state government will write to the Centre seeking some amendments in the Act.
"A proposal will be sent to the Central government for bringing amemdments in the act highlighting the concerns voiced by the people about its implementation," Deb said.
Odisha Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said the state government can further relax norms, if necessary.
The two BJD leaders made statements about the new MV Act after a violent clash between a group of people protesting collection of "hefty" fines on violators of traffic rules and police in the state capital in which several persons were injured on Saturday.
The state government, bowing to public outcry against heavy penalties for traffic rule violation, has on Friday announced relaxation for a month in the norms of air and noise pollution under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The Odisha Transport minister said further relaxation can be provided keeping in view the difficulty faced by the people as the state has discretionary powers.
Slamming the state government over the manner in which the revised traffic rules are being implemented, opposition BJP and Congress pointed out that states like Rajasthan, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have sought more time to implement the revised penalties under thOriginal Article