PM to decide on CBI probe demand into Gopinath Munde's death: Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi: Amid demands for a CBI probe into the death of former Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde following a road accident, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will decide the course of action on the matter.

"Yesterday, I spoke to the Prime Minister and Munde's family. It is the Prime Minister who will decide the proper course of action on the matter and truth will prevail," Road

Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari told reporters on Thursday.

Gadkari said if there is any doubt in the minds of people it should be cleared.

Munde, a popular backward class leader from Maharashtra, died due to shock and haemorrhage following injuries to his neck and liver after a road accident in Central Delhi on June 3.

64-year-old Munde, who made his entry into the Union Cabinet for the first time last week, was on his way to the airport when his car was hit by another vehicle at Prithviraj Road-Tughlak Road intersection in the heart of the capital.

Various political leaders have demanded a CBI probe to ascertain the reasons behind his death.

Republican Party of India Chief Ramdas Athawale has demanded CBI inquiry into the death of the Union Minister.

Gadkari said: "Black spots for accidents will be identified across the nation in coordination with state governments and other stakeholders.

"People don't respect law here. Henceforth with the new Act, advanced CCTV cameras would be installed at all traffic signals and anyone violating the law will be issued challan in the next 24-hours."

The minister said all manufacturers of heavy vehicles like trucks will be asked to make certain changes in the design of the vehicles to incorporate safety requirements.

Gadkari said data for driving licenses will be centralised to check misuse as often one person is found in possession of several licences.

Necessary amendments in two more Acts governing transport sector - Carriage by Roads Act and Road Transport Corporation Act - will be made, he said.

In six months time, public transport vehicles plying in all the cities with over 10-lakh population will be fitted with advanced GPS tracking system in view of safety of women

The current bill, which had been passed by Rajya Sabha in May 2012, proposes hefty penalty for traffic rule violations including drunken driving.

It provided hefty penalties - almost 10 times more than what traffic violators pay now - for offences such as over speeding and drunken driving.

The Bill seeks to raise compensation for death resulting from a hit and run accident to Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 for the injured in such incidents.

Framed in 1988, several provisions of the bill - especially those related to penalties for violations – have not been found to be effective in checking road accidents. The last time the MV Act was amended was in 2001.