Summary:
Kolkata: Railing against "very harsh" penalties for traffic violations and raising the question of federalism, West Bengals Mamata Banerjee government has announced the new Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), 2019, passed by Parliament, will not be implemented in the state. Banerjee herself has publicly articulated her government's opposition to the stringent provisions in the central legislation piloted by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. According to Banerjee, the Act would "overburden the people" particularly the poorer sections, with its steep fines and other penal provisions. Under the new Act, the fine for driving without helmet has been raised to Rs 1,000 from Rs 100, alongside a three-month disqualification of licence. State Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said: "We also have objection to a clause that the company from which you are purchasing a vehicle is entitled to give its fitness certificate.".