the Lok Sabha has passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2000. The legislative changes to be introduced through the bill would promote the use of eco-friendly fuels, including liquefied petroleum gas ( lpg ).

The Union petroleum and natural gas minister Ram Naik said that lpg apart from being eco-friendly would also be cheaper than petrol. To make lpg available, 212 outlets will be set up.

The bill also empowers the government to take effective steps to check corruption in the transport department and to ensure road safety. According to the Union transport minister, Rajnath Singh, the government is planning to create a unified authority comprising representatives from the police, the state transport authorities and the National Highway Authority, which will deal with cases of accidents and corruption on the highways.