The members of UT Administrator’s Advisory Council on Friday raised concern over the exorbitant penalty under the Motor Vehicle (Amendment), Act 2019 and urged the Chandigarh Administration to reduce the penalties under the new rules.
The issue was raised during the first meeting of the newly constituted Advisory Council held under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore at Hotel Mountview here.
While talking about the huge penalties under the new rules, former MP Harmohan Dhawan demanded that the challaning process should be stopped for few months and the focus should be on road safety and making people aware about the new rules.
Following this, few more members also urged the Administrator to reconsider the decision of implementing the Motor Vehicle Act (Amendment) 2019 in the city.
The UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore assured to look into the matter while maintaining that the new rules will ensure road safety of the commuters.
At the meeting, presentation on three agendas including law and order, pedestrianisation around Sukhna Lake, parking policy were given. These issues would now be discussed in detail by the standing-committees of the Advisory Council to be constituted soon.
Former MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, who attended the Advisory Council meeting said the proposal of pedestrianisation around Sukhna Lake is good but the Administration should also make provision for parking space there. Parking has to be provided to the visitors there and at the same time, it is important to ensure the safety of pedestrians in that area, he said.
Another member who attended the meeting said that there were only presentations on the three agenda items on Friday. Everybody was given a chance to speak but details about parking policy, pedestrianisation around Sukhna Lake and other issues would now be discussed after constitution of sub committees.
While presentations were given about the agenda items, it would have been better if we were given papers about the same, the member added.
Talking to The Pioneer, Manoj Parida, Advisor to UT Administrator said that the first meeting was held to take feedback of the Council members on three agendas.
“The members gave suggestions on issues related to crime against women, drug addiction, parking spaces among other issues. Now, we will constitute ten standing committees which will deliberate over various issues discussed today and submit their report to the Advisory Council for further action,” he added.
In his speech at the meeting, the UT Administrator assured the members that the Advisory Council will meet more frequently. Ten standing committees will be constituted to give policy inputs on different subjects, he said.
Sanjay Baniwal, DGP Chandigarh informed the members that for efficient disposal of issues affecting people, Chandigarh Police will soon come up with modern police control room.
He also shared that the Police has taken stringent steps to control cyber crime and strict action has been taken against violators of traffic rules so as to maintain law and order in the city.
Nilabari Jagadale, SSP Chandigarh presented before the council members the law and order initiatives and issues that needs to be addressed. She also stressed upon the revitalization of the beat policing system and crime mapping as a result of which substantial reduction in crime can be seen in the city.
Giving presentation on parking policy, Kapil Setia, UT Chief Architect highlighted the significant aspects of the proposed policy such as strengthening of public transport system, infrastructure interventions, technology based interventions, management, and enforcement etc.
In the presentation on pedestrian and parking management plan at Sukhna Lake, SSP (Traffic) Shashank Anand apprized that the traffic management plan is aimed at the safety of the pedestrians and cyclists, to maintain the aesthetics and heritage, to improve the mobility for road users and to reduce pollution of Sukhna Lake.
At the meeting, the Administrator also launched the online procedure for submitting applications as well as issuance of the fire safety certificate.
Notably, the Advisory Council was re-constituted on August 5. The 58-member council is constituted to advise the higher authorities on developmental issues and policy matters affecting the union territory of Chandigarh.
