Kerala Transport Minister AK Saseendran will write to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, for more clarity on the increase in fines under the amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019, reports Mathrubhumi.

"We are prepared to wait for some more days until there is clarity on the issue from the Centre," he told reporters at a meeting.

The state did not implement the new rules during Onam celebrations.

Minister Gadkari said last week that the fines were increased to save people's lives and not to collect revenue. He also said the state governments can decide on the fines.

"The state governments can decide on fines. There is no problem. But this is not a revenue earning proposal. This is for saving lives of people. We are losing two per cent of GDP due to road accidents. Is it not the responsibility of the government to save the lives of the people? That is the spirit behind the law. It was not the intention of the government to increase fines to get revenue for the government," Gadkari said.

Although the Union Minister said this, there is no clarity on the issue.

Minister Saseendran will also write to all MPs from the state to intervene in the issue, reports The Hindu. The state Law Department, which was against the reduction of penalties, has been asked to prepare the minimum fines that can be imposed. Law enforcers will not be stern on the violators till there is clarity on the issue.

It was decided to request Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hold a meeting if the issue is not resolved soon, since the revenue of the Motor Vehicles Department would fall drastically.

Earlier, Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote had also requested Gadkari to reconsider the 'exorbitantly increased' fines.