25 years later: Road ministry ups speed limit for cars on highways to 100 kmph

Few highways are policed enough to ensure speed limits are followed, but theroad transport ministry has reportedly for the first time in 25 years revised the speed limits on national highways.

According to an Economic Times report, the Ministry of Road Transport has notified new speed limits on national highways so that cars can now travel upto 100 kmph, goods trucks, mini-busesand buses can travel upto80 kmph, and motorcycles can also travel at 80 kmph.

Currently, speed limit for all four-wheelers stands at 65kmph and 50 kmph for two-wheelers.

The new limits, however, are applicable only on national highways and civic bodies and local bodies can stipulate speed limits for their own jurisdictions on the basis of safety requirements.

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The ministry of roadtransport’s decision is expected to play a role in speeding up the transport of goods across the country and the ministry has arguedthat vehicles on Indian roads are now more powerful and the highways are of better quality.

Whilethe move is unlikely to see any complaints fromvehicle owners, there are doubts over enforcing speed limits on Indian highways and ensuring compliance with it. Most national highways don’t have adequate mechanisms or personnel to enforce speed limits, which critics say is the cause behind India’s rising road fatalities.