Bhubaneswar: Apparently, the state government is determined to remove ongoing corrupt practices in government offices across the state.
A day after advising officials to keep off heinous PC (percentage) culture at block-levels and the practice of brokers and touts in healthcare institutions, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday ordered all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to remove brokers within 15 days.
Patnaik’s directive came while he was holding a discussion with Collectors, SPs and Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) through videoconferencing at the Lok Seva Bhavan here on the implementation of the amended MV Act.
The Chief Minister asked the RTOs to increase counters at their offices and organise camps in rural areas to facilitate issuance of DLs and other vehicle-related papers to vehicle users.
Expressing concern over the death of about 5,000 people especially youths per year in Odisha due to road accidents, Naveen asked the RTOs and SPs to take stringent action against drunken driving and rash driving. He also laid emphasis on providing first-aid treatment to road accident victims.
Road safety and traffic rule awareness plays a key role in minimising accidents, for which sensitisation drives should be conducted at schools, colleges and roads, he opined. The Chief Minister asked all concerned departments to work in coordination for proper implementation of the rules. He thanked the RTO officials for working during holidays to provide hassle-free service to the motorists.
PUC papers valid till Dec
The state government Thursday revised the rules for issuance of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for motor vehicles extending the deadline for manual issuance of such papers till December 31. The Transport department Thursday issued a circular to all Collectors, SPs and RTOs in this connection.
Now, PUC certificates are being issued both online and offline mode till December 31. Those who have obtained such certificates (online or offline mode) will remain valid till the expiry date as indicated in the certificates, Transport department authorities have said.
The decision was taken after the department found the number of pollution testing centres (PTCs) in the state inadequate to meet the demand, it said.
The department had earlier made online PUC mandatory from October 1. It had also said PUC obtained through the offline (manual) mode would be considered invalid from September 30.