Karnataka plans points-based driving licences, steep fines to curb traffic violations

Bengaluru, Oct 2: Karnataka is set to introduce a points-based driving licence system under which motorists will accumulate points for different traffic violations, with licences to be suspended once a specified threshold is reached.

A joint review meeting of the Home and Transport Departments held on Wednesday examined the legal measures required to implement the proposed system as part of efforts to strengthen enforcement and curb repeated violations.

The state has also decided to increase the fine for parking vehicles on footpaths from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Driving on one-way roads will similarly attract a Rs 5,000 fine.

Dedicated lanes for BMTC buses will be reintroduced on roads in Bengaluru where Metro construction has been completed, according to decisions discussed at the meeting.

Separately, Karnataka is set to revisit the fixed-fare policy for cabs operating within Bengaluru and other cities and is likely to allow ride-hailing apps to charge fares within a specified range. The proposed change will apply to cabs attached to ride-hailing apps, city taxis and airport taxis.

The Transport Department will also amend the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, which govern cab services offered by ride-hailing platforms.

In February 2024, the state introduced uniform fixed fares in an effort to curb “unauthorised” practices such as surge pricing during peak hours. Ride aggregators opposed the fixed-fare system and urged the government to permit them to charge fares within a specified range after the base fare, sources said.

Earlier, per-kilometre charges after the base fare ranged from Rs 11-36 to Rs 27-54 depending on the price of the vehicle.

“We have decided to revisit the fixed fare policy by consulting various stakeholders,” Deccan Herald quoted sources in the know as saying.

“We have received representations from cab aggregators and are actively looking into them. A suitable decision will be taken as soon as possible,” they added.

The Transport Department’s Sarathi system will be integrated with the Bengaluru Traffic Police’s e-challan system to enable comprehensive management of driving licence suspensions and traffic violation records.

The integration will allow traffic police to verify the validity of a driving licence on the spot, access a driver’s previous violations and directly link newly registered cases to the driver’s digital record.

The meeting also discussed identifying people with five or more traffic violations, initiating legal action against them, recovering pending fines and, where necessary, impounding or blacklisting vehicles.

Officials examined the possibility of imposing restrictions on vehicles with repeatedly unpaid fines. Amendments to the relevant laws and rules were also discussed.

The government is also considering mandatory road-safety training and awareness programmes for repeat offenders facing suspension or cancellation of their driving licences.

The meeting discussed effective action against the sale and use of unauthorised horns, modified silencers and excessively bright LED lights.

Officials also discussed the increasing number of traffic violations involving low-speed battery-powered electric two-wheelers, including requirements relating to helmets and registration.

The meeting further examined withholding pollution certificates from vehicles with unpaid traffic fines and conducting joint enforcement operations by the Transport Department and traffic police.

Officials also discussed introducing designated routes, fixed fares and a licensing system for shared auto services catering to Metro passengers.

The meeting took note of BMTC electric buses breaking down on major roads and obstructing traffic. It discussed setting up a dedicated technical team and an emergency response system to remove such vehicles quickly.

A coordination mechanism between BMTC and traffic police was also considered to ensure prompt repairs and clearance of roads.

The meeting further discussed improving BMTC services along the Outer Ring Road, providing feeder bus services from Metro stations to technology parks, increasing the number of buses during peak hours and encouraging employee-shared transport systems.