Gadkari proposed speed challan tolerance, not a new 144 km/h legal speed limit?

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Nitin Gadkari instructed officials to allow a 20% tolerance on expressway speeding notices, but this enforcement leeway does not change official legal speed limits. In a speech at an industry conference, Nitin Gadkari said he instructed officials not to issue notices for speeds up to 120 km/h and to allow a 20 percent tolerance margin above that. However, Autocar India and Business Today report that this statement refers to enforcement leniency for traffic notices on expressways, not an official change to legal speed limits. Motorists remain legally obligated to follow posted speed limits.

1 claim checked
2 sources
Checked 30 Oct 2026
Main source: 'No traffic challans for speeding up to 120 kmph, even 20% above allowed': Nitin Gadkari - Roadways News | The Financial Express

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The Reel we checked

@lastminuteofindia

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has proposed a 20% speeding tolerance on Indian expressways, potentially allowing vehicles on 120 km/h roads to avoid…

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What we checked

Nitin Gadkari instructed that no challan or notice should be sent for speeds up to 120 km/h, and an extra 20 percent tolerance should be allowed beyond that before issuing a challan.“Nitin Gadkari says no speed challans should be issued up to 120 kmph, allows 20% leeway beyond”'No traffic challans for speeding up to 120 kmph, even 20% above allowed': Nitin Gadkari - Roadways News | The Financial Express + 1 more

What we couldn't check

We couldn't find the full original video, so we can't say what was said just before or after this clip.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

Reporting by Autocar India and Business Today clarifies that Gadkari's statement represents an enforcement tolerance policy for issuing notices rather than a legal amendment to statutory speed limits.
Autocar India reports that the minister's remarks should not be interpreted as a change to prescribed speed limits and motorists must continue following posted signs.
Business Today reports that applicable speed limits still depend on specific highways, vehicle categories, and local regulations.

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “so the legal speed limit has effectively been increased to 144 km/h.”

An enforcement tolerance margin for issuing notices does not legally modify posted speed limits.

Short version

🧩 HALF THE STORY 👉 In a speech at an industry conference, Nitin Gadkari said he instructed officials not to issue notices for speeds up to 120 km/h and to allow a 20 percent tolerance margin above that. 🧩 Left out: Reporting by Autocar India and Business Today clarifies that Gadkari's statement represents an enforcement tolerance policy for issuing notices rather than a legal amendment to statutory speed limits. 📰 Source: Autocar India 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat