Bhubaneswar: To check road accidents, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena Tuesday directed the State Transport Authority (STA) officials to take stringent action against vehicles operating without valid fitness and registration certificates. Following the directives, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, in a circular, asked all deputy transport commissioners and regional transport officers (RTOs) to adopt a strict approach against erring vehicles. “Decisions have been taken to not only impose fines but also to seize these vehicles and file legal cases as per the law. All concerned officials have been instructed to intensify the inspection process of fitness and registration certificates throughout the state,” he said. “According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is mandatory for transport vehicles to have valid registration and fitness certificates, and for nontransport vehicles to have valid registration certificates. Despite repeated awareness campaigns, some vehicle owners have been found violating these norms,” Thakur said. “Moreover, insurance companies do not compensate for accidents involving vehicles without valid fitness and registration certificates. Therefore, it has been decided to strictly control such vehicles and take firm action against lawbreakers. The STA has issued a crucial circular consisting of nine points in this regard,” he said. “As per the guidelines, motor vehicle inspectors shall abstract fitness and registration certificate expired reports from VAHAN on daily basis.
The report contains the owner’s address and mobile number. These vehicles will be closely monitored. If caught without valid fitness and registration certificates, they will be seized under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, by issuing challans,” Thakur said in the circular. “The list containing details of vehicles whose fitness and registration certificates have expired will be circulated among respective bus/truck/taxi owner associations on a monthly basis with a request not to allow these vehicles to ply under their associations,” he said. “The RTOs will also circulate list containing fitness and registration certificates expired to respective toll plazas functioning under their region every month with a request not to allow those vehicles to pass through those plazas. Thakur said the enforcement will be even more stringent for educational institutions as no negligence regarding student safety will be tolerated. He instructed the RTO officials to file a prosecution report against the heads of educational institutions if they are found using vehicles for transportation purpose without valid fitness certificates and other required documents.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP