The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has suggested key changes to the Motor Vehicle Act.
These changes include giving Motor Accident Claims Tribunals a 12-month deadline to settle cases.
Additionally, the amendments aim to allow motorcycles to be used commercially as contract carriage.
This means companies like Rapido and Uber can legally use motorcycles for business purposes.
Cab aggregators will be allowed to use motorcycles
This information was revealed in a report by the Times of India. Currently, all transport vehicles can be classified as contract carriage.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ proposal to amend the Motor Vehicles Act aims to clarify the legal use of motorcycles.
According to the report, several states had prohibited motorcycles for ride-hailing services, prompting the ministry to introduce this amendment.
The ministry plans to revise the cab aggregator guidelines to include motorcycles while ensuring passenger safety.
Teenagers aged 16 to 18 will be permitted to drive motorcycles!
To address the issue of underage driving, the ministry has proposed allowing individuals aged 16 to 18 to ride 50cc motorcycles or electric scooters.
These motorcycles must have a maximum power of 1500 watts and can reach speeds of up to 25 km/h.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to introduce 67 amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act during the winter session of Parliament.
These amendments include a new definition for educational institution buses and a reclassification of light motor vehicles (LMVs) based on their gross weight.
They also clarify the definition of three-wheelers following a Supreme Court case.
Strictness will increase on buses of educational institutions
The amendment regarding the new definition of educational institution buses states that they must accommodate more than six people, excluding the driver, who are purchased, leased, or hired by the institution to transport students and employees.
To enhance accountability for institutions and drivers, the ministry has proposed to double the penalties for traffic rule violations by these buses.
In another amendment, states will be required to process applications for cab aggregators, automated test stations, and recognized driver training centers within six months.
If states fail to act within this time frame, the central government’s guidelines will apply.
