Shri Mansukh Mandaviya outlines Government efforts for ensuring noise free road transport
The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today informed that the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 prohibits replacement/modification of company installed silencers in motor bikes with loud noise producing exhausts. It is also mentioned under section 52 (1) of the above act, that no owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer. Further, contravention of section 52 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 attracts penalty under section 190 and 191 of the Act. Implementation of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is carried out by the respective State Government and Union Territory Administrations.
It was also stated that the installation of multi-toned horn in vehicles giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise is also prohibited under the Act. However, certain categories of vehicles like Ambulances, Fire- fighting vehicles etc. are exempted from this restriction. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also issued advisory to all the States and Union Territories for taking action against unauthorised installation of multi-toned horn in vehicles.
In a separate written reply, Shri Mandaviya informed the House that during the current financial year 2018-19, Government has completed/ inaugurated a total of 307 National Highway (NH) projects covering 29 States in the country. Total NH construction during the tenure of NDA-II (2014-Nov 2018) is 34,290 km whereas it was 24,590 km during the tenure of UPA-II (2009-14). As on date, 1700 NH projects amounting to Rs. 5.96 crores having length about 55,000 km are in progress in the country. To expedite completion of these projects, major policy initiatives taken by the Government since June 2014 are delegation of power, enhanced inter-ministerial coordination to resolve inter-ministerial issues, innovative project implementation models viz. Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), Toll – Operate – Transfer (TOT), adoption of Web Portals like Bhoomirashi for fast Approval of Land Acquisition files and PMIS (Project Monitoring Information System) to monitor ongoing National Highway works on real time basis.
