Even my car was fined twice on Sea Link: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed that even his own car was fined twice on Mumbai's Bandra-Worli Sea Link, challenging the common belief that VIPs are exempt from traffic rules. He made this statement at the Rising Bharat Summit 2025, hosted by News18.

"I built the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. I have a car in Mumbai, and I got a challan twice. No one is spared. The cameras catch everything. I had to pay ₹500," said Gadkari. "People keep complaining about fines, but the truth is, if you follow the rules, you won’t be fined. Fines are not for collecting money—they're about enforcing discipline," he added.

Gadkari also hinted at major toll policy reforms that could help lakhs of drivers. When asked if roads could become toll-free, he replied, "A policy to ease the burden on tollpayers is being prepared. It will be announced in 8–10 days. The toll will be reduced by 100%. That’s all I can say for now."

He admitted that the ministry’s goal to reduce road accidents by half is still out of reach. He blamed the issue on both poor road design and engineering flaws. While vehicle safety standards have improved, road infrastructure still needs work. To fix this, ₹40,000 crore has been set aside to address dangerous accident-prone "black spots."

Under the Raahveer scheme, the government will reward people who help road accident victims with ₹25,000. There's also a plan to cover the medical costs of the injured, which has already been sent to the Prime Minister for approval.

Gadkari raised concerns about careless driving. To stop people from making risky U-turns by crossing road medians, the government plans to raise median heights to 3.25 feet and grow trees as barriers. Foot overbridges will also be redesigned to include lanes for two-wheelers, cyclists, and differently-abled persons.

He pointed out that nearly 30,000 people die in accidents every year because they weren’t wearing helmets. To fight this, the government may soon require manufacturers to provide two helmets with every two-wheeler sold. Gadkari also warned against using mobile phones while driving and noted that many school zones still lack basic road safety features.

He ended by stressing the importance of following traffic rules, saying that stricter enforcement is needed to make roads safer for everyone.