In a first, NHAI orders fine upto Rs 10 Cr against firms for defective road causing accidents
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a policy of graded penalty for accidents and deaths caused by structural collapse or defects in design, construction, or maintenance of the stretches.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 27 Jan 2021 9:11 AM GMT
Hyderabad: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a policy of graded penalty for accidents and deaths caused by structural collapse or defects in design, construction, or maintenance of the stretches.
This includes a high fine and blacklisting of contractors. These agencies are now liable to pay a fine of Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore fine.
They will not be allowed to bid for any NH project for three years for such failures claiming any human life. The company concerned has to bear the expenses for carrying out rectification.
Also, the consultants who are engaged in such works will have to pay hefty penalties and face exclusion from the projects. In case of major failure causing death/s, the consultancy firms will have to pay Rs 40 lakh as fine and they won't be allowed to bid for two years. Their key personnel will not be engaged for any NHAI work for three years.
Earlier, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, on 25 January approved a proposal to levy a Green Tax on old vehicles whose outdated apparatus is responsible for the release of harmful pollutants into the air. The proposal will now go to the states for consultation before it is formally notified. The policy will come into effect from 1 April 2022.
The minister said that this Green Tax will be levied on transport vehicles that are older than eight years at the time of their renewal of fitness certificate, at the rate of 10 per cent to 25 per cent of road tax.
Personal vehicles to be charged Green Tax at the time of renewal of their registration certification after 15 years. Public transport vehicles, such as city buses, to be charged lower Green Tax. Green Tax would be higher (50 per cent of road tax) for vehicles registered in highly polluted cities.
