Nitin Gadkari says even he got e-challan for speeding

Mumbai: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari and minister of state (MoS) General (Retd.) V.K. Singh, too, got an e-challan for speeding on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, Mr Gadkari admitted at a conference to mark the first 100 days of the new Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

“Even I and Mr Singh have paid fine for speeding on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. The Motor Vehicles Amendment Act aims at stricter punishment for violation of traffic regulations and bringing discipline on roads. Passing the MV Act amendment is a big achievement for our government. The high fines will lead to transparency, and not corruption,” Mr Gadkari said.

Mr Gadkari also argued that development is the need of the hour and added that it is fine to cut trees for the purpose.

However, the minister clarified that more trees need to be planted at other places.

“If a person is made to plant 10 trees for every tree cut by him/her, I feel we would be able to protect the environment. We should touch trees only when the development of a project is stuck,” he said.

The Union minister’s comments come at a time when environmentalists, along with several Bollywood personalities and politicians, are opposing the proposal to fell over 2,600 trees at Aarey  for the metro  3 car shed.