Gujarat Might Follow ‘One Citizen, One Vehicle’ Rule Soon — Government Asks RTOs To Prepare Data

In essence, the new policy will allow individuals to own only one vehicle in the state. The government started considering such stern measures after the Gujarat High Court blamed them for not doing much against the rising traffic problems. According toTimes Of India, this move is "significant" for the state.

As per Section 33 of The Gujarat Road Safety Authority Act, 2018, the government is empowered by the right to restrict the people from owning more than a single vehicle. With reference to this, the Commissioner of Transport directed RTO officials to collect details of individuals who've got more than one vehicle.

As mentioned before, the RTO officials were asked if such a ‘one vehicle per person' policy would be possible. In addition to this, the government also directed the officials to prepare information about vehicles which are older than 15 years.

Section 33 of the Act says – "The desirability of effective enforcement of provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force to control and regulate road traffic, the desirability to reduce vehicle density on public roads, the desirability of preventing the road accidents, the desirability of preventing the deterioration on the road system may, from time to time, by notification in the official gazette, issue directions to the authority, regarding control of the purchase of a second vehicle, regarding prevention and regulation of the use of vehicles more than 15 years of age and manner for the scrap thereof, regarding fixing time of the use or prohibiting use of the of the vehicle on the public road in the specific area or areas. Under the act, the government has the power to fix penalties and fines on those owning more than one vehicle or owning vehicles more than 15 years old."

Commission of Transport, R M Jadav shared, "We have directed all RTOs to prepare a database of vehicles owners having more than one vehicle as well vehicles older than 15 years in each district. We have also directed them to provide feedback on the likely implications of implementation of Section 33 of the Gujarat Road Safety Authority Act, 2018. The government, after studying various aspects, will take the final decision on the ‘one person, one vehicle' policy."

Thoughts On Gujarat Government's ‘One Citizen, One Vehicle' Policy

Forcing individuals to own only a single vehicle may not be the best idea to curb traffic problems. Rather than implementing such strict measures, the government should bring up more parking spaces and widen roads in key areas. Those who violate traffic rules should also be fined a good amount. As of now, the state is hoping for a more lenient approach from the government to check the rising traffic issues.