NEW DELHI: Taking a step towards ending uncertainty in allowing commercial use of motorcycles , including their use by aggregators like Rapido and Uber, the road ministry has proposed bringing them under the ‘ contract carriage ’ category of vehicles. Proposing 67 amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act , it has proposed the definition of three-wheeler with a maximum design speed limit of 50 kmph and proper definition of school buses and vans.
Contract carriage refers to a vehicle which carries a passenger/s for hire and is engaged under a contract.
Sources said while the Cab Aggregators Guidelines, which is being reworked by the road transport ministry, will bring motorcycles under its ambit with provision for greater safety of passengers. “Even the present law says that all motor vehicles can be used as a ‘contract carriage’, but to bring clarity, the proposal is to specify inclusion of two-wheelers,” an official said.
The ministry has put the ‘finalised draft’ of the proposed amendments on its website for feedback from the public by Oct 15.
As per the document, the ministry has proposed to redefine “educational institution bus” and any motor vehicle that carries more than six persons excluding the driver — owned or leased or hired by the institution — for transporting students and staff will come under this category. In its bid to make both drivers and their employers more accountable, there is a proposal to double the penalty and fines for traffic offences committed by school buses. The ministry proposes to include a new clause in the Act for this purpose.
In another proposal to curb the menace of juveniles driving electric two-wheelers , the ministry has also proposed that a person attaining 16 years can be allowed to drive motorcycle with engine capacity not exceeding 50CC and motor power not exceeding 1,500 watts (in case of pure electric vehicle), and with a maximum design speed of 25 kmph.
“The said provisions are good for easy operation of transport vehicles and will boost the business of two-wheelers and sleeper coach buses. These will also reduce anomalies in EVs and driving licensing. However, there is not much focus on reducing crashes. The provision of mandatory driving training before issuance of driving licence should be incorporated,” said transport motor vehicle expert Anil Chhikara.
The finalised draft also proposes to amend the law making it mandatory for states to consult highway authorities before reducing maximum speed limit on any NH stretch falling within their jurisdiction. While the speed limit for cars on NHs is 100 kmph and 120 kmph on expressways, states indiscriminately reduce the speed limits, which creates confusion among drivers who don’t take such stretches frequently.
Contract carriage refers to a vehicle which carries a passenger/s for hire and is engaged under a contract.
Sources said while the Cab Aggregators Guidelines, which is being reworked by the road transport ministry, will bring motorcycles under its ambit with provision for greater safety of passengers. “Even the present law says that all motor vehicles can be used as a ‘contract carriage’, but to bring clarity, the proposal is to specify inclusion of two-wheelers,” an official said.
The ministry has put the ‘finalised draft’ of the proposed amendments on its website for feedback from the public by Oct 15.
As per the document, the ministry has proposed to redefine “educational institution bus” and any motor vehicle that carries more than six persons excluding the driver — owned or leased or hired by the institution — for transporting students and staff will come under this category. In its bid to make both drivers and their employers more accountable, there is a proposal to double the penalty and fines for traffic offences committed by school buses. The ministry proposes to include a new clause in the Act for this purpose.
In another proposal to curb the menace of juveniles driving electric two-wheelers , the ministry has also proposed that a person attaining 16 years can be allowed to drive motorcycle with engine capacity not exceeding 50CC and motor power not exceeding 1,500 watts (in case of pure electric vehicle), and with a maximum design speed of 25 kmph.
“The said provisions are good for easy operation of transport vehicles and will boost the business of two-wheelers and sleeper coach buses. These will also reduce anomalies in EVs and driving licensing. However, there is not much focus on reducing crashes. The provision of mandatory driving training before issuance of driving licence should be incorporated,” said transport motor vehicle expert Anil Chhikara.
The finalised draft also proposes to amend the law making it mandatory for states to consult highway authorities before reducing maximum speed limit on any NH stretch falling within their jurisdiction. While the speed limit for cars on NHs is 100 kmph and 120 kmph on expressways, states indiscriminately reduce the speed limits, which creates confusion among drivers who don’t take such stretches frequently.
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