Kolkata: Railing against "very harsh" penalties for traffic violations and raising the question of federalism, West Bengals Mamata Banerjee government has announced the new Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), 2019, passed by Parliament, will not be implemented in the state. Banerjee herself has publicly articulated her government's opposition to the stringent provisions in the central legislation piloted by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. According to Banerjee, the Act would "overburden the people" particularly the poorer sections, with its steep fines and other penal provisions.

Under the new Act, the fine for driving without helmet has been raised to Rs 1,000 from Rs 100, alongside a three-month disqualification of licence. For not wearing a seatbelt, the penalty has gone up to Rs 1,000. There are also jail provisions for more serious offences, which so far attracted only a fine. Banerjee said: "Levying heavy penalty on the people is not the solution. The problem has to be seen from the humanitarian point of view. Can poor people afford such steep fines?"