Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
Gadkari’s proposal to raise expressway speed tolerance faces legal hurdles
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari proposed a wider speed-limit margin for cars on India’s expressways, saying drivers should not be fined for going up to 20% above the limit.
The proposal would mean speeds of up to 140 kmph where the expressway limit is 120 kmph.
Current rules allow only a 5% margin before the exemption from fines no longer applies, so the proposed 20% tolerance is not supported by the existing framework.
States and local authorities can also set lower limits for roads in their jurisdictions.
Experts warn higher speeds could increase crash risks and injury severity, and say road infrastructure may not be designed for 140 kmph.
Any change would need legal review and a scientific safety assessment; the sources do not say whether or when the rules will change.
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari proposed not issuing expressway speeding challans to cars travelling up to 20% above the 120 kmph limit, which would allow speeds of up to 140 kmph.
Experts said the proposal cannot be implemented under the existing legal framework and could harm road safety.
Existing rules allow only a limited 5% relaxation above notified speed limits before the exemption from challans no longer applies.
More than 58% of road crash deaths in India in 2024 were attributed to speeding, according to the article.
- Who
- Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari proposed the change. Experts raised legal and road-safety concerns.
- What
- He said officers had been directed not to issue challans to cars travelling up to 20% above the expressway speed limit.
- When
- Gadkari spoke at a CII event on Tuesday. The article was published on 2026-10-30.
- Where
- India, including its access-controlled expressways.
- Why
- The proposal concerns challans for cars travelling slightly above the 120 kmph expressway limit. Experts said a broader exemption would need legal backing and a scientific road-safety assessment.
Gadkari
Road safety experts
Proposal
Gadkari
He said officers should not issue challans to cars travelling up to 20% above 120 kmph on expressways.
Road safety experts
The existing rules do not support a 20% relaxation, and higher speeds could increase crash likelihood and injury severity.
More than 58% of road crash deaths in India were attributed to speeding.
Gadkari told a CII event that he had directed officers not to issue challans to cars travelling up to 20% above 120 kmph on expressways.
- Expressway limit
- 120 kmph for cars on access-controlled expressways
- Proposed tolerance
- 20% above the prescribed limit, or up to 140 kmph
- Existing relaxation
- Up to 5% above the notified speed limit
- India road deaths
- More than 58% of road crash deaths in 2024 were attributed to speeding
What people are saying
I was told that people are getting challans for speed violation on expressways for travelling little over 120 kmph. I have directed officers that no challans should be issued, if anyone is driving at speed that’s 20% more than 120 kmph. But if someone crosses that limit, issue challan.