Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asserted that the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019 would not be implemented in Bengal, saying the stiff penalties mentioned in the central law would put additional burden on the people.

“We are not implementing the act. We feel that it is very harsh. We are focussing on our Safe Drive, Save Life campaign. The programme has brought down the number of accidents in the state,” Mamata said at a news conference in Nabanna.

Trinamul MPs, she said, had registered their protest during discussions in Parliament on the bill.

“We had pointed out that it would be an interference in the federal structure. But they did not listen to us. Unilaterally you cannot take decisions that would cause trouble to the people,” the chief minister said.

She pointed out that the fine for some traffic rule violations would jump from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 if the act was implemented.

“There are so many poor people. Where will they get so much money from?” the chief minister asked.

Sources at Nabanna said the chief minister had been concerned over imposition of stiff traffic penalty on “common people” over the past few months.

At some recent administrative review meetings, she held the police responsible for imposing “unnecessary fines” for violating traffic rules.

“During closed-door meetings in districts, the chief minister expressed concern that a section of police officers was making money by fining motorists,” an official said. If the fine amounts for traffic rule violation is hiked, it will only open the route for some officers to make more money.