Gangtok: With an enforcement drive currently underway for the implementation of the amended Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 that came into effect in Sikkim this year, two ministers won hearts of the public for leading by example and voluntarily getting their vehicles checked by mobile checking squads.
After state transport minster Sanjit Kharel took his vehicle to a checking squad and got his vehicle checked on Monday, HRDD minister Kunga Nima Lepcha followed suit on Tuesday.
As many as 7,040 vehicles have underwent the enforcement drive for implementation of the amended Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 which came into effect in Sikkim this year.
To implement the new Act, mobile checking squads have been constituted for the enforcement drive for the month of January 2020. These squads are checking vehicles in various places of the state. After checking, officials paste a ‘checked’ sticker on the car. The enforcement drive will be conducted for three months.
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As many as 480 vehicles have been challaned for not a having proper documents.
Before implementing the Act in the state, the state transport department took a feedback from other states implementing the MV Act 2019 after being passed by Parliament. After receiving a positive feedback from other states and stakeholders involved, Sikkim decided to implement the Act.
The new Motor Vehicles Act has enhanced the penalties for driving errors. Additionally, new penalties have been introduced in case of violation of road regulations.
The new penalty can be between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
As per the state transport departement, there are 75,000 Sikkim (SK) registered vehicles, of which 45,000 are plying on the road.