Jaipur / Riding without a helmet in Rajasthan? Govt may give you a free helmet with Rs 1,000 challan

Even as Rajasthan is yet to implement the amended Motor Vehicles Act, the state government is mulling over providing a free helmet with each challan of Rs 1,000 to those caught for traffic violations.

The Rajasthan government said the proposal will be a relief for those who have to pay heavy fines under the amended act.

Speaking about the proposal, Rajasthan transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariwas said the government was planning to give a free ISI Mark helmet to a driver caught riding without a helmet with an invoice of 1,000.

The transport minister said the move will reduce resentment among people over hike in the penalty under the amended Motor Vehicles Act.

Slowly, everyone will start wearing a helmet on the road. The transport department is preparing a proposal to make the proposal a reality, Pratap Singh Khachariwas said.

In several meetings in the last few days, the Rajasthan government has decided to reduce penalty in 17 provisions of the amended Motor Vehicles Act so that people aren’t burdened.

Targeting the Centre, he said there were several shortcomings in the new act and there was no mechanism to rein in toll companies that do not comply with rules.

He said that a large number of deaths occur on highways which are "totally handed over to the toll companies".

The minister suggested that severe penalties should be imposed on toll companies for not complying with norms.