Commuters in Delhi may face hardship on September 19, 2019, as transport bodies present in capital have given a one-day token strike call against various provisions of 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

United Front of Transport Associations (UFTA) office bearers on September 18, alleged that both Central and Delhi Governments were forcing m to go on strike. According to UFTA General Secretary Shyamlal Gola, "We have been seeking redressal of our grievances related to new MV Act from both Centre and Delhi government for last 15 days, but solution is re is sight forcing us to go on a one-day strike.”

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 Delhi-NCR region. Gola said that ro transport sector is alrey passing through its worst phase due to rising ecomic uncertainties, exorbitant taxes, penalties, and corruption.

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Delhi Taxi Tourist Tourist Transporters Association will t be a part of strike

" exorbitant and unviable penalties imposed through amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019 has increased corruption, high handedness, and harassment of vehicle owners and drivers," he charged. federation leers have demanded withdrawal  provisions of amended Act, such as steeply hiked penalties and limiting liability of insurer to Rs 5 lakh, among ors. President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association Sanjay Samrat said that y would t be part of strike.

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What is new MV Act?

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

Union Ro Transport Minister Nitin Gkari said that “Passing MV Act amendment is a big achievement for our government. high fines will le to transparency, and (will) t result in corruption,” Mr. Gkari said. He ded that he was himself penalised under traffic rules.

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(With Inputs from PTI)