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The <keyword id="499463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (<keyword id="375113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morth" source="Orion">MoRTH</keyword>) is all set to roll out a new ₹7,270 crore <keyword id="12179033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Support-Programme" source="Orion">State Support Programme</keyword> for Strengthening <keyword id="87280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-Safety" source="Orion">Road Safety</keyword> to help realise the vision of 'Zero road fatalities on Indian roads.' The centrally-sponsored six-year programme will be implemented in 14 states that are now contributing to 85 per cent of the total road fatalities in the country. While MoRTH will lend a budgetary support of Rs 3,635 crore, an amount of Rs 1,818 crore will be secured as loan each from the World Bank and the <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword>. Of the total cost, Rs 6,725 crore will be disbursed to the 14 states based on their performance while MoRTH will use Rs 545 crore for capacity building activities. The scheme will incentivise state governments to drive road safety interventions at the grassroots level with the main objective of curbing road accidents and achieving a reduction in fatalities, the MoRTH said in a concept note circulated to the target states. The target states under the scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Haryana and Assam. "This is an output and outcome-driven scheme wherein the performance of the states will be assessed on 11 mandatory and three elective indicators (road safety interventions). The grants will be distributed to the states based on the Key Performance Indicators," top official sources told PTI. The preliminary project report prepared by MoRTH says the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (2019) was brought in as an important intervention to achieve the fatality reduction target. "To leverage the strengthened law, it is necessary to have focused interventions in the related areas of road safety like road engineering, enforcement, road safety advocacy and media campaigns and efficient emergency response systems. The states need to be supported to act on result-oriented strategies. Hence the new scheme," the sources said. India reported about 1.51 lakh road deaths in 4.49 lakh accidents in the year 2019. Of the total deaths, the 14 identified states accounted for 1,27,379. The number of fatalities remained consistent over the last five years. In 2020, 1.32 lakh road deaths were recorded across the country, with the Covid-19-induced lockdown resulting in the reduction in number. The new scheme targets to reduce the fatality rate by 30 per cent by March 2027. Cyclists, two and three-wheeler riders and pedestrians have been identified as 'vulnerable road users' who comprised about 54 per cent of road traffic deaths in India. Under the new scheme, performance-based indicators have been proposed with the aim of reducing the impact of road accidents on these vulnerable users. An Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) will be rolled out in all states by 2022-23 and applied for identifying and rectifying all black spots on state highways and major district roads. Road safety audit will be made mandatory on state highways and urban roads by the end of the scheme period. From 2022-23, MoRTH will launch a 'Challenge Round' every year to provide incentives to states on additional road safety interventions and also to promote competition among states. "The grant of Rs 7,270 crore will only meet partial fund requirement for the scheme. States are expected to make their own budgetary allocations and also implement projects in Public-Private Partnership mode," MoRTH told the states. Independent Verification Agencies will scrutinise the states' achievements, based on which the Central grant will be released. Some of the other major interventions mooted under the scheme are: Installation of speed management devices on urban roads in cities with a population of over four lakh, state highways and national highways for increased enforcement, a unique number for reporting accidents, development of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads and identification of priority corridors. State Education Boards will be required to introduce a chapter on road safety for classes 6-9 in 2022-23 and up to class-12 the next year on. Deployment of Advance Traffic Management System, campaigns on vehicle safety and driver training, establishment of a Command and Control (Data) Centre for ambulances, establishment of automated vehicle fitness centres are some of the other initiatives planned under the scheme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/highlights-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-speech-at-the-unga-today/articleshow/86510462.cms">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his points on China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/freshworks-ceo-girish-mathrubootham-shares-someone-said-i-will-be-nothing-but-a-rickshaw-puller/articleshow/86507840.cms">WATCH: "Someone said I am good enough to be a rickshaw puller," shares Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham in a candid chat</a>

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

<ul><li><keyword id="6354544" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="kkr" source="Orion">KKR</keyword> has launched HIT, which is its third investment infrastructure investment trust, in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.</li><li>HIT’s initial portfolio comprises six road assets with a total length of more than 450 kilometers across six states in India.</li><li>The platform seeks to invest in and also acquire highway assets.</li></ul>Global investment company <keyword id="150061" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kohlberg-Kravis-Roberts" source="Orion">Kohlberg Kravis Roberts</keyword> (KKR) launched a third infrastructure investment trust in India, which is dedicated to the roads sector. Called the <keyword id="14513770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Highways-Infrastructure-Trust" source="Orion">Highways Infrastructure Trust</keyword> (HIT), this will add to KKR’s infra trust portfolio that comprises <keyword id="10737319" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virescent-Renewable-Energy-Trust" source="Orion">Virescent Renewable Energy Trust</keyword> and <keyword id="4511705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Grid-Trust" source="Orion">India Grid Trust</keyword>. “HIT’s launch is a significant milestone for KKR’s India infrastructure strategy as we deepen our presence in the market. Highways and roads play a critical role in driving India’s economic prosperity and connecting its citizens, and we look forward to enabling further infrastructure creation and expansion as transportation demands continue to grow,” said <keyword id="201167" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hardik-shah" source="Orion">Hardik Shah</keyword>, partner at KKR. HIT’s initial portfolio comprises six road assets with a total length of more than 450 kilometers across six states in India. The assets, which include a diversified mix of toll and annuity roads, are located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. “HIT is considering a pipeline of acquisition targets, including through its sponsor. The platform possesses significant growth potential and seeks to invest in high-quality assets, including through bolt-on acquisitions,” the company said in a statement. CRISIL, an S&amp;P’s India affiliate, assigned ‘provisional AAA/stable’ to HIT for its loan facilities. KKR said that HIT was launched due to the growing demand to expand India’s road network, which is said to be second-largest globally, as passenger traffic and commercial vehicle traffic continue to increase. India’s road network is responsible for 90% of total passenger traffic and the movement of almost 65% of all goods across the country. “With our dedicated platforms across transmissions, roads and renewables in place, KKR is well-positioned to collaborate with sellers in the private markets and the government through the National Monetisation Pipeline on attractive investment opportunities,” Shah added. All the three infra platforms – operate and manage 33 assets valued at over $3.8 billion across 22 states or union territories across India. KKR has over 20 investments in India with more than a dozen active portfolio companies today. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/eu-ready-to-suspend-visa-agreement-with-russia-report/articleshow/93849863.cms">EU ready to suspend visa agreement with Russia: Report</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/vodafone-denies-a-research-firm-report-which-said-20-mn-of-its-customers-call-data-was-leaked/articleshow/93848765.cms">Vodafone denies a research firm report which said 20 mn of its customers' call data was leaked</a>

KKR launches Highways Infrastructure Trust in India with six assets

Travelling around the wonderland that is India is a thrilling experience, especially when fast-moving super <keyword id="168020" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="expressways">expressways</keyword> are right here to ensure some wonderful on-the-road vacations. Of course there are business travellers who are in a hurry to reach their destinations and <keyword id="2053038" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Super-fast-expressways">super fast expressways</keyword> minus traffic snarls suit them down to the ground. But then, you can be one of those away on a leisure trip and looking forward to a fast and panoramic drive on your way to a new city. Either way, the expressways of India won’t disappoint you. As we mentioned before, expressways are controlled-access highways like the freeways or motorways or autobahnen in the US and Europe, essentially designed for high-speed traffic. As of now, most of the expressways in India are 6-8 lane toll <keyword id="6358996" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="roads">roads</keyword> and cover a total distance of nearly 1,208.19 km. 
 
Last month, we brought you <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/8-Super-ExpresswaysIn-North-India-That-Fulfil-Your-Need-For-Speed/articleshow/29486214.cms">8 super expressways</a> in North India that fulfil your need for speed. And this time, we move to the West and the North-west of the country where some more picturesque drives await us. However, the <keyword id="52840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sea-links">sea links</keyword> and the <keyword id="2053055" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coastal-expressways">coastal expressways</keyword> will come up in our next article. So grab a coffee, get a map and read on. By the time you are through, you could be checking the map and picking out the spots where you want to go first. As the Turkish playwright <keyword id="1981629" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mehmet-Murat">Mehmet Murat</keyword> ildan has said: Some roads are so beautiful that you know not whether you travel on the road or the road travels in you! 
 
Image: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Open Roads Return: 6 Super
Expressways In West & North-west India

New Delhi, Jan 22 () Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will review road projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore on Thursday and Friday with a view to fast track highway projects, the government said.
 The meeting will serve as an important platform for ironing out issues and exploring ways forward for pending projects and help in expediting their implementation.
 "The progress of about 500 projects, especially struck/delay projects, will be taken up during the meeting. These projects involve a cost of about Rs 3 lakh crore," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement on Wednesday.
 Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh will also attend the meeting. Besides, various stakeholders, including about 600 developers, bankers and officials from various wings, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), will also be present.
 The meeting will be held at Manesar, Gurugram.
 On Thursday, projects in South Zone (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Pondicherry, Karnataka) and Central Zone (Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat) will be reviewed, the statement said.
 Projects in Haryana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal will be taken up on Friday.
 Projects in Punjab, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Goa will be taken up afterwards.
 The issues related to projects in North-Eastern States and under National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) have already been reviewed in a separate meeting held on January 7. NAM RVK

Gadkari to review highway projects worth Rs 3 lakh cr

Indian airplane landing on Yamuna Expressway in 2015. Photo Credits: Times of India <ul><li>India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will set up 13 emergency landing airstrips including 11 strips on the its <keyword id="6373156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-highways">national highways</keyword>. </li><li>The road runway is aimed at providing faster transport services via air during <keyword id="470423" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="natural-calamities">natural calamities</keyword> that block the rail and road connectivity. </li><li>The first such strip will be set up in Gujarat on National Highway number 151.</li></ul>India’s is planning to <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/roadways/national-highways-to-have-11-emergency-airstrips-here-are-details/1386881/">set up emergency landing</a> airstrips on 11 national highways across the country. The move is aimed at easing efforts during natural calamities and emergency situations. The government has prepared a standard design for the road runway. The airstrips will span over 5-6 kilometres on a 60-metre wide concrete road. They will have parking slots for four aircraft, two gates at either ends of the strip and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. The road runways are aimed at reaching out to the affected areas in the fastest possible time in case of natural calamities such as earthquakes or floods when air connectivity is the only viable option.The government plans to remove the hindrance caused by the electric poles, trees and dividers. According to the country’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the landing airstrips will cost about ₹836.6 million. The project will be managed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), India’s Ministry of Defence and its transport ministry. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/country-to-have-11-emergency-landing-air-strips-on-national-highways-mandaviya/article25538114.ece">reportedly</a> said that the first such strip will be set up in Gujarat on National Highway number 151 near Khambhaliya of Devbhumi Dwarka district. Other states to have such airstrips include West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Rajasthan and Odisha. Mandaviya also said that the government has potentially identified 13 roads across seven states that can have emergency landing. Two of these roads fall under state control while the remaining are under the <keyword id="83263" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highway-Authority-of-India">National Highway Authority of India</keyword> (NHAI), The Hindu <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/country-to-have-11-emergency-landing-air-strips-on-national-highways-mandaviya/article25538114.ece">reported</a>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-railways-to-build-a-3000-km-safety-fence-to-guard-people-and-prevent-accidents/articleshow/66689250.cms">Indian Railways to build a 3,000 km safety fence to guard people and prevent accidents</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-conglomerate-tata-is-in-talks-to-buy-out-troubled-carrier-jet-airways-in-a-deal-that-could-create-one-of-the-countrys-largest-airlines/articleshow/66650918.cms">Indian conglomerate Tata is in talks to buy out troubled carrier Jet Airways in a deal that could create one of the country's largest airlines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/emirates-airline-profits-are-down-by-86-and-things-may-not-get-better-soon/articleshow/66641941.cms">Emirates Airline profits are down by 86% and things may not get better soon</a>

India plans to build 11 emergency airstrips on its national highways

Led by the most populous Uttar <keyword id="83308" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pradesh">Pradesh</keyword> and the largest <keyword id="6355588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</keyword>, the gross fiscal deficits of all the states skyrocketed to Rs 4,93,360 crore in fiscal 2016 from Rs 18,790 crore in FY1991, according to the latest RBI data, according to PTI news report. According to the second edition of RBI's statistical publication titled 'Handbook of Statistics on States 2016-17', which was released today, the gap is projected to improve to Rs 4,49,520 crore as per the budgestimates of the states for fiscal 2017. Uttar Pradesh had a fiscal deficit of a paltry Rs 3,070 crore in FY91, which zoomed to Rs 64,320 crore in FY16 and is projected to improve to Rs 49,960 crore in FY17. According to the 16-year data, Rajasthan, which had a gross fiscal deficit of Rs 540 crore in FY91, saw it soaring to Rs 67,350 crore in FY16 and is projected to decline to Rs 40,530 crore in FY17. Maharashtra, one of the most urbanised and industrialised states, had a gap of Rs 1,020 crore in FY91 but the same jumped to Rs 37,950 crore in FY16 which is projected to improve to Rs 35,030 crore in FY17. On the other hand, <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>, which had seen rapid industrialisation during the period of data analysis, had only Rs 1,800 crore in fiscal deficit in FY91 but the same had jumped to Rs 22,170 crore in FY16 and is projected to further deteriorate in FY17 to Rs 24,610 crore. In fact from FY01, there was not a single year when the western state had shown improvements in its macro numbers. In FY01 its fiscal gap stood at Rs 7,990 crore which almost doubled to Rs 15,150 crore in FY10 and further to Rs 18,320 crore in FY15. Another state projected to have higher deficit in FY17 is <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> at Rs 20,500 crore, which was Rs 17,000 crore in FY16 and a paltry Rs 970 crore in FY91. Similarly, Tamil Nadu, a state known for state freebies, is also projected to have a higher deficit at Rs 40,530 crore in FY17, up from Rs 32,320 crore a year ago and Rs 1,130 crore in FY91. Again, <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword>, which had good finances in the past, is also estimated to post higher deficit in FY17 at Rs 25,660 crore, up from Rs 20,560 a year ago and Rs 560 crore in FY91. Similar is the case with Kerala, which is also slated to have higher deficit at Rs 23,140 crore in FY17 from Rs 17,720 crore in FY16 and a healthy Rs 800 crore in FY91. Reflecting its improved finances on the back of rising investments following better law and order situation, <keyword id="30033" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword> is slated to improve its finances with fiscal deficit of Rs 16,010 crore in FY17 against Rs 28,510 crore in FY16. The state which had for long been the badland of the nation had Rs 15,90 crore deficit in FY91. <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>, despite having high debt levels, has been improving its finances with its fiscal deficit projected to improve to Rs 19,360 crore in FY17 from Rs 25,180 crore a year ago and a healthy Rs 1,630 crore in FY91. The publication follows the 'one-indicator-one table' approach and covers all sub-national statistics on socio- demographics, state domestic product, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, banking and fiscal indicators across the states over a period ranging from 1950-51 to 2016-17. It also offers data on state-wise availability of power, per capita availability of power, installed capacity of power, and power requirement, length of national highways, roads and state highways, and railheads.

States' fiscal deficit soars to Rs 4.93 trillion in FY16

New Delhi, Jan 30 () Three years from now, you will be able to drive from Delhi to Mumbai in 12 hours with the construction of a new highway that will cut the travel distance on the route by 280 km, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.
 "We are building a highway worth Rs 1,03,000 crore between Delhi and Mumbai. I assure you that within three years from now, you will be able to drive to Mumbai from Delhi in your car and reach there within 12 hours," the Minister for Road Transport &amp; Highways and MSMEs said.
 He said the land acquisition for the highway has been completed and 32 contracts out of 60 have already been awarded.
 "The highway starts from Sohna near Gurugram and will cut the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 280 km," Gadkari said at a conference of Assocham.
 The minister also said Rs 16,000 crore have been saved on land acquisition for the project, owing to the highway passing through socially and economically backward tribal areas of five states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana.
 "Had we taken the alignment of Delhi-Ahmedabad-Surat-Vadodara-Mumbai, the land acquisition cost would have come to Rs 6 crore per acre, but now, this cost has come to Rs 80 lakh per acre," Gadkari said.
 Besides, on the 59-minute-loan scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) launched earlier, the minister said a review of the loan disbursement record by banks shows that several loans have been sanctioned but have not been disbursed by lenders, owing to conditions not being fulfilled.
 He said a scheme has been prepared whereby Rs 10,000 crore have been earmarked under a fund of funds and the Centre will fund 10 per cent equity of an MSME coming forward to enter the capital market.
 "Our target is to raise the contribution of the MSME sector in the country's growth to 50 per cent in the next 5 years so that we can achieve our target of making India a USD 5-trillion economy," Gadkari said.
 The minister said it has also been decided to raise the MSME sector's contribution to India's exports to 60 per cent and create five crore new jobs. RSN HRS

Delhi-Mumbai highway to cut travel distance by 280 km; to be ready in 3 years: Gadkari

New Delhi, Feb 1 () The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will monetise at least 12 highway stretches before 2024 to raise more resources, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
 These stretches comprise of over 6,000 km of highways.
 "I propose to monetise at least twelve lots of highway bundles of over 6,000 km before 2024," Sitharaman said in her speech while tabling the Union Budget 2020-21.
 On electronic toll collection through FASTags, she said the "mechanism encourages us towards greater commercialisation of our highways so that NHAI can raise more resources."
 NHAI is authorised to monetise public funded national highway projects, which are operational and are collecting toll for at least 1 year after commercial operation, through the Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) model on a case to case basis. 
 NHAI has so far come out with three tranches for road monetisation, with the first bundle of nine projects totalling approximately 681 kms of highways in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat awarded in 2018 becoming a massive hit.
 Foreign investors showed huge interest and the first TOT bundle was awarded to Macquarie for Rs 9,681 crore, which was 1.5 times higher than NHAI's estimate.
 The second bundle of over 586 kms spread over four states -- Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar -- with 12 toll plazas across four highways was also offered in 2018, but was later annulled.
 Singapore-based Cube Highways had emerged as the winning bidder for government's third round of road monetisation programme, quoting a price bid of Rs 5,011 crore in 2019.
 With a view to expand the project base available with NHAI for monetisation under TOT mode and for raising finance against toll receipts from identified Public Funded/Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) projects through securitization, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in November 2019 accorded approval to NHAI to vary the concession period between 15 to 30 years depending on project features.
 It was allowed to raise long term finance from banks by securitizing the user fee receipts from fee plazas as an alternate mode of asset monetisation. NAM RVK

NHAI to monetise 12 highway stretches of over 6,000 km before 2024 to raise more resources: FM

New Delhi, Jan 6 () No state can lower traffic penalties below the level prescribed under the new Motor Vehicles Act, the central government said on Monday.
In an advisory to states, the road, transport and highways ministry said the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 is a parliamentary legislation and the state governments cannot pass any law or take executive action to lower penalty below the prescribed limit unless President's assent has been been obtained to related state law.
The transport ministry had sought legal advice on this from the law ministry after one of the states had notified amounts for compounding of certain offences lower to what has been prescribed in the new Act.
The new Act with stricter provisions has come into force in the country from September 1, 2019.
"Ministry of Law and Justice has tendered their advice after seeking opinion of Attorney General of India. The Attorney General has inter alia observed as under: "The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended by Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019) is a Parliamentary legislation, the state governments cannot pass any law/take executive action to lower the penalty/fine below that prescribed under the statutory provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, unless the assent of the President is obtained to such state law," the ministry said in an advisory to states.
The advisory to the principal secretaries of states also mentioned the legal opinion that in case of the failure of states to implement the Act, reference may be made to Article 256 of the Constitution that authorises the Union of India to issue directions to a state as may be necessary for the purpose.
Article 256 provides that the executive power of every state shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that state, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a state as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
The advisory also quoted Attorney General's opinion that "the disobedience of these directions could well attract the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, and one could therefore proceed on the basis that the central law would implicitly be obeyed by the state governments".
The ministry said the objective of the Act and enhancement of penalties for traffic violations was to ensure greater compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules which is intended to provide for better road safety resulting in reduction of accidents and fatalities on roads. 
Earlier, the government had said that for certain offences Gujarat, Karnataka, Manipur and Uttarakhand had reduced the penalties.
Under the amended Act, violations such as drunken driving and dangerous driving attract fines of Rs 10,000 and/or imprisonment of six months to two years.
Penalty for driving without licence was increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 500 earlier, while riding two-wheeler without helmets will not only attract fine of Rs 1,000 but could lead to suspension of licences for the next three months. NAM MKJ

States cannot lower fines below prescribed limits under Motor Vehicles Act: Centre

New Delhi, Nov 25 () Post implementation of new Motor Vehicle Act on September 1, deaths in road accidents have reduced drastically in some states and union territories including Chandigarh, which saw a 75 per cent dip in fatalities in September and October, Parliament was informed on Monday.
 While only two persons were killed in road crashes in Chandigarh in September and October as against eight in the year-ago period, Puducherry saw a decline in death by 31 per cent to nine fatalities as against the same months in 2018, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
 Uttarakhand saw a decline of 22 per cent in road accidents deaths to 61 in September and October as against 78 persons in the year-ago period.
 Deaths in Gujarat also declined to 480 in these months as against 557 in the corresponding period a year-ago, recording a dip of 14 per cent, Gadkari said.
 As per the data of these two months from Bihar, the fatalities declined to 411, a dip of 10.5 per cent during the period as against 459 in two related months of 2018.
 The deaths due to road accidents declined by 10 per cent in Uttar Pradesh to 1,355 in September and October this year as against 1,503 in the corresponding period of 2018.
 Gadkari said Kerala saw a decline of 2.1 per cent in road accident related deaths to 314 in the two months as against 321 in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
 However, post-implementation of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019, Chhattisgarh saw an increase of 4 per cent in accident related deaths to 305 in September and October months of 2019.
 "The Ministry has not received any information from any State that they are not implementing the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. As per section 200 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the State Government may by notification in the official gazette specify such amount for compounding of certain offences. No State has intimated regarding conducting of any study on the Act and forwarded any findings thereof," Gadkari said.
 Last week, the government had informed Parliament that as many as 38 lakh challans, involving a total amount of Rs 577.5 crore, have been issued since the implementation of the new Motor Vehicle Act.
 However, it had said that as the "challans are being referred to courts. Actual revenue is not available".
 "As per information available in the database of NIC (Vahan, Sarathi), 38,39,406 traffic challans in 18 states and union territories were issued," according to the government.
 The challans involved a total amount of Rs 577.51 crore.
 The data was available for Chandigarh, Puducherry, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
 Tamil Nadu saw the highest number of challans at 14,13,996, while the least number of challans were recorded in Goa at 58.
 The government recently said it has no information about any state not implementing the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
 However, some states have reduced penalties in accordance with the powers granted to them under the Act.
 The Act with stricter provisions and higher penalty amount came into force in the country from September 1. NAM RVK

Road accident deaths plunge drastically in some states, UTs post new Motor Act: Govt

As the second phase of the <keyword id="43573" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="General-Election">general election</keyword> takes off in India, voters in 11 states and 1 union territory— West Bengal, Odisha, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Manipur and Puducherry — were up early queuing up at the election booths. Nearly 5 million people are eligible to vote in the state of West Bengal with a nearly equal distribution between men and women, albeit there are only 87 registered third-gender voters in the three constituencies going to vote in the state today today. And Puducherry, while being a union territory, is home to nearly one million voters who have been facing <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/puducherry-congress-tries-to-win-back-sole-mp-seat/articleshow/68899027.cms">increasing</a> debt and a fall in social initiatives due to lower devolution of taxes from the central government. A lot of voters and politicians are wondering if the second phase of polling will be marred with problems of EVM malfunctions and poll booth violence like evidenced during the first phase of the general election in India. Two incidents of poll booth violence have already been reported in West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, four of the contesting politicians — Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati — have been <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/top-story/up-election-2019-after-yogi-mayawati-ec-bans-azam-maneka-from-campaigning/story/337566.html">banned</a> from campaigning by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for issuing controversial comments. For Tamil Nadu, the days leading up to the election were a little chaotic after the Income Tax (IT) department seized over 1,350 kilograms of gold and nearly ₹14.8 million which was allegedly stashed to bribe voters. Elections in Vellore, one of Tamil Nadu’s most-watched constituencies, were cancelled altogether after ₹1.05 million was found at Durai Murugan’s house, the father of Kathir Anand — a DMK candidate in the district. Another ₹115.3 was also found at Poonjolai Srinivasan’s cement godown, a known associate of Murugan. Even Maharashtra hasn’t had an easy go of it with over 15,000 cases of alleged Model Code of Conduct violations <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-over-15-000-code-of-conduct-cases-filed-in-maharashtra/story-luAZtetS7fq6EUDRsYztmI.html">registered</a> since March 10.The Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Dilip Shinde, has stated that over 700,000 officers and employees of the states are involved in keeping elections in Maharashtra peaceful and efficient for the 10 seats of the state going to the polls today. <div type="ExtQuote" text="The enforcing departments (Income Tax and Police) also lodged total 15,095 FIRs against the offenders for violating the model code of conduct, with most of the cases pertaining to storage and distribution of illicit liquor, followed by possession of firearms." auname="Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dilip Shinde"></div>

 If voters aren’t being bribed, then they’re being threatened. Kawasi Lakhma, a Congress minister from Chhattisgarh, has been <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/general-elections-2019-chhattisgarh-congress-mla-kawasi-lakhma-threatens-voters-with-electric-shocks-2024279">telling</a> voters that they vote against his party, the EVM machine will deliver an electric shock. While Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu struggle with voter bribery issues, Bihar and Karnataka are more concerned with voter turnout. The city of Bengaluru — the Silicon Valley of India — in particular, has issues of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">voter turnout</a> while Bihar’s <a href="https://www.livemint.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/bihar-elections-2019-patna-is-missing-a-whole-generation-of-millennials-1555350536677.html">brain drain</a> means that a lot of its eligible millennial voters don’t actually live in the state anymore. As Manipur goes to polls again, the Returning Officer (RO)The Returning Officer (RO) of the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Haobam Rosita, has <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/returning-officer-recommends-re-poll-19-polling-stations-manipur">recommended</a> that re-polling needs to take place at 19 of the polling stations from the first phase of the general elections in the state. Among the many reasons that Rosita cites for repolling, the most disturbing is probably one of the constituencies showed that voter turnout in excess of 100% and that the polling booth for the Najang Village was put up at a non-designated location. In order to keep disruptive elements from affecting the polls similarly, the west Indian states of West Bengal and Assam are <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/2nd-phase-tight-security-in-five-election-bound-districts/articleshow/68868180.cms">increasing</a> security in constituencies along the border — especially in districts classified as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘critical’. And unfortunately, for Jammu and Kashmir, none of the contesting political parties are talking about the environmental issues which have a heavy bearing on the state’s water supply as well as its tourism industry, which has been suffering as more and more of the state’s green capital is being destroyed. The third phase of the general election will kick off on April 23 covering 14 states — Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and West Bengal. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">Over a ton of gold seized a day ahead of polls shows the depth of the rot in Tamil Nadu</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/job-losses-will-haunt-bengaluru-indias-silicon-valley-as-it-goes-to-polls-today/articleshow/68930893.cms">Job losses will haunt Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, as it goes to polls today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-second-phase-of-polling-in-tamil-nadu-voters-issues/articleshow/68930595.cms">Tamil Nadu’s angry voters have a small oil field, a big highway, a medical entrance test, and a police shootout in mind</a>

Here’s what the second phase of the Indian general election has in store for the 11 states polling today

Whenever NDA govt has been at the centre, roadways in India have worn the biggest smile. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana that was a major hit during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s reign has found a revamped blue print in Sethu Bharatam, Rashtriya Rajmarg Zila Sanjoyukta Pariyojana and Backward Area Highways schemes, thanks to <keyword id="6387077" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi-government">Narendra Modi government</keyword> this time. Not only the ambitious plans include improvement and up gradation of existing roads, new links to connect remote areas, building 350 railway bridges and level crossings are also on cards. 
 
As per a news report in The Economic Times, the idea is to create an extensive network of seamless, high-quality highways that would speed up movement of goods and ease passenger traffic. Sethu Bharatam has been conceived to provide such connectivity along national highways with the construction of 150 railway over-bridges and 204 level crossings in one year. Several highway projects have been stalled because such bridges haven't been completed. We have already started DPRs (detailed project reports) of these projects," <keyword id="613484" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-secretary">road secretary</keyword> <keyword id="790046" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijay-Chibber">Vijay Chibber</keyword> told the ET. 
Chibber confirmed that the cabinet notes would be moved this week. Experts said the projects could change the connectivity landscape of the country. 
 The government has also drawn up a plan for a 2,000 km project to connect underdeveloped areas in states such as Uttar Pradesh, <keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, Gujarat and Rajasthan to <keyword id="222693" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National">the national</keyword> highway network. All these areas have been identified as part of a non-Naxal belt that needs urgent government attention. "These areas are sparsely populated and one of the reasons for poor development is lack of connectivity," Chibber said. 
 
Like the Golden Quadrilateral, a separate religious circuit is being planned to improve the connectivity of areas considered sacred to boost tourism. Religious centres such as Nanded and Katra are among those that will be connected by national highways as part of the 2,000 km project. The road transport and tourism ministries have prepared a coordinated action plan toward this end, says the ET report. 
 The road ministry was allocated <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> of Rs 42,913 crore in the FY16 budget, which won't be enough for what it has in mind. But funding isn't regarded as a constraint. While private investment is still not very forthcoming in the sector, the ministry is hopeful of a favourable response to its latest hybrid <keyword id="488576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="annuity">annuity</keyword> model. It expects at least 40-45 projects based on this model-60% of the project cost will come from private investors and the remaining 40% in five equal installments from the <keyword id="87432" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highways-Authority-of-India">National Highways Authority of India</keyword>. 
 
The govt has also planned to build 30 km of highway per day by 2016-17. In the last one year, the government has managed to achieve an average target of 11 km per day after awarding 7,972 km of roads in FY15. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

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