A high-level meeting of ministers and officials convened by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday decided to explore the areas where the increased penalty rates under the amended Motor Vehicle Act can be brought down to an ‘affordable’ level.
Transport Minister AK Saseendran said that a draft will be prepared detailing the penalties that can be brought down by the state.
"We are exploring multiple options," the minister said, adding that a final decision is yet to be taken, reports Times of India.
The report quoted government sources who said that there are as many as eight points where the state can reduce the penalty to a more rational sum from the existing ones.
"The priority areas, which the state will try to fix by itself, are those penalties where the amended act has given a range of fines with a maximum upper limit up to which the penalty can be imposed,” the minister said.
It was decided in the meeting that the transport secretary will be entrusted to prepare a draft and make another round of deliberations before finalizing the revised penalty. The draft will be finalised after consultation with the law department.
Earlier, the government had decided to write to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, for more clarity on the increase in fines under the amended Act and also to the MPs from the state to intervene in the issue.
The minister had told media that the state was prepared to wait for some more days until there is clarity on the issue from the union government.
As per the new rule, one has to pay Rs 1,000 for not wearing a helmet, which was earlier only Rs 100. Riding without seat belts will be charged a penalty of Rs 1,000, while fine for speeding has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Drunken driving will invite a hefty amount of Rs 10,000, and those riding without a valid licence will be charged Rs 5,000.