Bhubaneswar, 09 July (H.S.): The Odisha Transport Department has decided to tighten enforcement against commercial vehicles operating without a valid Fitness Certificate (FC) by introducing stricter punitive measures, including vehicle seizure, suspension or cancellation of Registration Certificates (RC), and cancellation of permits for repeat offenders.
The directive has been issued by the Transport Commissioner to all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), Additional RTOs and Deputy Transport Commissioners following an analysis of violations recorded on the state's e-Detection Portal.
According to the analysis covering the period from April 1 to June 30, enforcement agencies issued 43,696 e-challans to 11,401 commercial vehicles found operating without valid Fitness Certificates.
The data revealed a significant number of repeat violations despite repeated penalties. As many as 6,635 vehicles were detected violating the rule more than once, while 2,191 vehicles were caught five or more times. Similarly, 960 vehicles were found operating without valid Fitness Certificates on more than 10 occasions, 359 vehicles were detected over 20 times, and 37 vehicles were booked more than 50 times during the three-month period.
Observing that many vehicle owners continued to operate their vehicles without renewing the mandatory Fitness Certificates despite repeated e-challans, the Transport Department has decided to move beyond monetary penalties.
Under the revised enforcement strategy, authorities have been instructed to seize vehicles found repeatedly violating the Fitness Certificate norms, initiate proceedings for suspension or cancellation of their Registration Certificates, and recommend cancellation of their permits wherever necessary.
The department said the stringent measures are aimed at improving road safety, ensuring compliance with motor vehicle regulations, and preventing the operation of mechanically unfit commercial vehicles on Odisha's roads.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
