Why in news?
- The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, passed last year by the Lok Sabha, now faces opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
- Click here to know more on the Bill.
What is the need for the amendment?
- The Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988 governing motor vehicles and transport is largely outdated.
- It lacks the provisions that are necessary to manage the present fast motorisation.
- Especially, the passenger transport sector operating for inter-city services has grown with vested interests.
- This is a result of exploitation of the lack of transparency and regulatory bottlenecks.
- So with a transparent system, professional new entrants can come into the sector.
- Also, State-run services have not kept pace with the times.
- E.g. investments in the urban metro rail systems are yielding poor results in the absence of last-mile connectivity services.
- These lacunae have to be addressed to improve road safety, ensure orderly use of vehicles and expand public transport.
- But the bill faces opposition from the states.
What are the concerns?
- Some state governments are concerned about the new provisions, Sections 66A and 88A.
- This will empower the Centre to form a National Transportation Policy.
- Notably, it would be through a process of consultation, and not concurrence.
- It will also enable Centrally-drafted schemes for national, multi-modal and inter-State movement of goods and passengers, for rural mobility and even last-mile connectivity.
- The provisions would bring in a new paradigm that would overhaul the sector, and hence the States see it anti-federal.
- Clearly the issue is not one of legislative competence as the subject is in the Concurrent List.
- So clearly, parliament can make a law defining powers available to the States.
- The opposition is thus more due to the perceived shift of power from the States to the Centre.
What is the way forward?
- Well-run bus services have to be enabled to operate across States with suitable permit charges.
- This is an imperative to meet the growing needs of a transforming economy.
- The regulatory changes could contribute to fostering competition, reducing fares and increasing services.
- Other provisions on road safety, fines and curbing corruption need proper enforcement.
- A professional accident investigation agency has to be put in place to determine the best practices.
- In all, an equitable regulatory framework has to be created for the orderly growth of transport services.
- States should thus reconsider their opposition to amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act.
- The passage of the Bill would also help meet the UN mandate to reduce road accidents up to 50% by 2020.
Source: The Hindu