Hyderabad: Bad state of Hyderabad roads cannot be the excuse for not levying heavy penalties on traffic rule violators, newly-inducted MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao said on Monday at GHMC office.
Spelling out his position on the amended Motor Vehicles Act, KTR said there is nothing wrong in imposing fine on any
offender when it comes to traffic rules.
“For our country to develop, there is need for discipline among our people. It has to start somewhere. Why should people ride vehicles on the footpath? The discussion about whether the road is good or bad, if set aside– what is the problem in stopping at the zebra crossing signal? Shouldn’t people and pedestrians get to cross the road? If people are fined for lack of common sense, it is 100 percent not wrong.”
The MA&UD Minister was reacting to a question on how the government could increase challan penalty amounts while
citizens were asking what about the bad condition of roads. To this, he said that it
would be wrong if anybody finds fault in imposing heavy penalities, adding, however, that increased fines on challans are not being collected in the state at the moment.
Speaking about the deplorable condition of
roads, he said, “City Road sare affected by rains. We are thinking of permanent solutions like taking up 1,000 km road length as part of annual maintenance. We
will discuss this with the engineering department and look for a permanent solution.”
About his new role in the government, KTR said, “We welcome positive criticism where roads are indeed battered, but please tell us what needs to be done and give inputs on how to do things better.
The MAUD is thankless job. You don’t appreciate us when sanitation is good, but when it is bad you scold us first. Municipal administration is day-to-day job and cannot afford lapses or lacunae.
“There are lot of issues and a lot of things that need to be sorted. I know the job, I have done it before. With my past experience as Municipal Minister, I hopefully will come out with some solution. Once in a while, please pat our GHMC officials and give booster dose,” he said exuding optimism.