New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday, refused to backpedal on the new traffic rules but also stated that the government does not desire to raise the limits of the fine. He stated that lives of people on road is more precious

“Government does not desire to raise the limits of the fine. The issue is that a time should come that no one gets penalised and everyone follows the rules,” he said.

Parliament in July passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to tighten road traffic regulations such as the issuance of driving licence and imposed stricter penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.

Under the new law, people not wearing helmets or seat-belts will be fined Rs 1,000, which was Rs 100 earlier, while those driving without a licence can be fined Rs 5,000 or face three-month jail.

Speaking at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) annual convention, he admitted that the automobile industry is witnessing a slowdown and assured that soon a solution for it would be found out by the government.

“There is a fact that as far as the present economic data is concerned automobile sector is facing problem, because of global economy, demand and supply. Government is already with the automobile industry and under the Finance Ministry we'll find out a solution,” Gadkari said.

He also said that the government had no intention to ban petrol or diesel vehicles in the country.

“There were discussions and the ministry had received suggestions that petrol-diesel vehicles be banned but I would like to clarify that government does not intend to ban petrol and diesel vehicles. We aren't going to do anything like that,” he said.