Government of India is taking a new step to improve safety. The new Govt is proposing reforms in the Road Transport and Safety Act 2014 and emphasizing the need for e-governance. The government wants vehicle manufacturers to upload specifications of the vehicles they sell on a portal that will serve as a digital database to provide quick and easy access to information.
The Indian government has asked auto makers to provide them with relevant data about vehicles sold and their specifications. The information will be uploaded onto a website – active in October next year. The Centre wants to create a digital database and the portal is expected to furnish all details required by the Central Motor Vehicles Act. This move makes the registration process easier say officials. The government has asked that vehicle manufacturers do this voluntarily in the first year after which it becomes a mandatory requirement. No vehicle will be registered unless the auto maker gives the fuel used, chassis and engine numbers, colour and capacity of the engine. Government officials can then use the comprehensive database to cross check information prior to registering a new vehicle. The Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) are usually bursting at the seams with people and corruption is allegedly rampant. The government hopes that creating this website will put a stop to the malpractice and rush. Officials believe that it will create ‘standard service options’ for insurance and finance companies integral to the auto sector. The National Informatics Centre will maintain the data to provide easy access to this information. At the time of sale, Form 20 will include relevant vehicle specifications—from two wheelers to power tillers, from cars to heavy duty trucks. The data will make recalling vehicles in the event of manufacturing or technical defects easier as well.
Automakers already possess this information and are happy with the announcement as they think that transferring ownership will now become much easier and quicker. “In fact, it would be helpful not just in faster ownership of vehicles to customers, but also lead to smoother transfer of second or third ownership across India, once all the transport centres across the country are computerised.” According to officials, the portal will help RTOs keep track of national permits, enforce legislation, vehicle registration, and commercial vehicle fitness.
‘Safety programmes and unified information systems’ are expected to bring down the number of fatalities in India. The Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari said, “The NDA government is very serious about road safety. We are studying internationally laid down norms and will adopt the best practices in amending the existing Indian laws.” The government is amending the Road Transport and Safety Act 2014 to shed the dubious distinction as the country with the maximum number of road traffic accidents. Gadkari’s Bill aims to set up a Motor Vehicle Regulation & Road Safety Authority, an independent agency that will be answerable to the Parliament. He tweeted: “Providing safe, efficient, cost-effective and faster transport across the country is our mission. Our new Bill gives emphasis on e-governance to bring in transparency in the transport sector. Our new ‘golden hour’ policy will provide immediate relief to accident victims and help save thousands of lives.” A Unified Vehicle Registration System and a Unified Driver Licensing System are key features in the country’s renewed vigour towards enforcing road safety in the country. Under the proposed bill, offenders can be subjected to rigorous imprisonment, steep fines and cancellation of licenses.
