Gadkari tells officials not to issue speeding challans up to 120 kmph on expressways

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that vehicles travelling at up to 120 kmph on expressways should not be sent speeding challans. He said he has already instructed officials on the matter. He was speaking on complaints being raised over speeding challans. According to Gadkari, vehicles exceeding this speed by up to 20 per cent should also be let off, and fines should be imposed only above that.

Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event on the future of India's highways, Gadkari said the aim of the instruction is to spare expressway drivers unnecessary notices. He cited the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, where the speed limit is currently between 100 and 120 kmph.

The minister said, "Some people are getting notices on the road because of speed. I have directed that no notice be sent for speeds up to 120 kmph. And even above 120, if someone drives up to 20 per cent faster, let them go. If anyone goes beyond that, issue a challan."

The 20 per cent leeway would mean no challan on a stretch with a 120 kmph limit until about 144 kmph. However, Gadkari's remarks related to enforcement on expressways and not to any formal change in the posted speed limits.

The Union minister also asked industry to support the introduction of an AI-based Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). Such a system can help authorities catch those who violate lane discipline and strengthen enforcement on the country's growing highway network.

Gadkari on E20 fuel

Gadkari also responded to criticism of E20 petrol. He described the opposition to it as "paid propaganda". According to him, 4 crore cars and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on E20 since 2022. He questioned the claim that the blend had caused widespread damage to vehicles.

Gadkari said at the CII event, "4 crore cars and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on E20 fuel since 2022. Three months ago there was a lot of uproar (halla) over ethanol. Now everything has calmed down. E20 has been in use since 2022; has anyone's vehicle broken down so far? This was entirely paid propaganda."

His statement came a day after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Following the amendment, flex-fuel vehicles will be able to run on fuel containing up to 100 per cent ethanol, that is, E100.