Commuters in Delhi may face hardship on September 19, 2019, as transport bodies present in the capital have given a one-day token strike call against various provisions of the amended Motor Vehicle (MV) Act, including a steep hike in penalties for various traffic-related offences.

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Forced to go on a one-day strike

The United Front of Transport Associations (UFTA) office bearers on September 18, alleged that both the Central and Delhi Governments were forcing them to go on strike. According to the UFTA General Secretary Shyamlal Gola, "We have been seeking redressal of our grievances related to the new MV Act from both the Centre and the Delhi government for the last 15 days, but no solution is there is sight forcing us to go on a one-day strike.”

The UFTA is an umbrella body which represents 41 associations and unions of goods and passenger segments including trucks, buses, autos, tempos, maxi-cabs, and taxis plying in the Delhi-NCR region. Gola said that the road transport sector is already passing through its worst phase due to rising economic uncertainties, exorbitant taxes, penalties, and corruption.

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Delhi Taxi Tourist Tourist Transporters Association will not be a part of the strike

"The exorbitant and unviable penalties imposed through the amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019 has increased the corruption, high handedness, and harassment of vehicle owners and drivers," he charged. The federation leaders have demanded withdrawal the provisions of the amended Act, such as steeply hiked penalties and limiting the liability of the insurer to Rs 5 lakh, among others. President of the Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association Sanjay Samrat said that they would not be part of the strike.

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What is the new MV Act?

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, came into effect from September 1. The new Act was approved by President Ram Nath Kovind in the month of August. The bill was intended to tighten road traffic regulations such as allotment of driving licence and impose stricter penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety. The act enhanced the penalty for several offences, and since its implementation, there have been instances of heavy fines being levied including a Gurugram motorist being penalised Rs 23,000.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that “Passing the MV Act amendment is a big achievement for our government. The high fines will lead to transparency, and (will) not result in corruption,” Mr. Gadkari said. He added that he was himself penalised under the traffic rules.

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(With Inputs from PTI)