Transport Minister Thomas Chandy has said that Transport Ministers of southern States had decided to adopt a unified stand in opposing certain sections of the proposed Motor Vehicles Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
He was addressing a press conference here after participating in a meeting of the Transport Ministers of southern States here on Thursday.
Mr. Chandy said the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, but it was yet to be passed by the Rajya Sabha. Almost all States had differences of opinion in respect of several sections of the proposed Bill, he said.
He said certain sections of the new Bill amounted to encroaching upon the rights of States. There were provisions which would enable the Centre to frame rules in the State transport sector without the consent of the States. The amendment seeks to designate external entities as enforcement agencies, a practice which would ultimately harm the interests of the State.
The amendments would also bring changes in the motor insurance policy framework which could be against public interest.
The Minister said in-principle agreement had been reached among the southern States to operate more inter-State buses. Fifty Scania buses would be launched by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation for the purpose before the Onam festival.
He said buses fuelled by natural gas would be introduced on a trial basis and the infrastructure for it was under construction.
Ramalinga Reddy and Vijayabaskar, Transport Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu respectively, were present.