The State Transport Authority (STA) Odisha, has launched a robust crackdown on the illegal practice of transporting passengers in goods vehicles, a major cause of road accidents.
In a special enforcement drive, Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and Additional RTOs across the state were directed to form dedicated teams to conduct stringent checks at various locations.
On the first day of the operation, authorities issued 195 challans and seized 10 vehicles found unsafely transporting passengers. Balasore RTO led the effort with 24 challans, followed by Chandikhol (15), Cuttack (14), Mayurbhanj (13), Ganjam (12), Dhenkanal (11), Khordha (10), Bhubaneswar-2 (8), and Bhubaneswar-1 (5).
In terms of vehicle seizures, Jajpur and Chandikhol RTOs confiscated two vehicles each, while Bhubaneswar-2, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Barbil RTOs seized one vehicle each.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, transporting passengers in goods vehicles is strictly prohibited due to safety concerns. Such illegal practices have been linked to numerous accidents, endangering lives. To address this, the Transport Commissioner has instructed all RTOs and ARTOs to intensify enforcement efforts.
The STA plans to expand these special drives to tackle other major causes of road accidents, such as speeding and drunk driving. RTOs have been directed to analyse accident causes in their jurisdictions and strengthen enforcement accordingly.
In addition to enforcement, the STA has been conducting awareness programs to promote road safety. However, with non-compliance persisting, the authority has decided to ramp up enforcement measures to ensure adherence to traffic rules.
The Commerce and Transport Department urges all to follow road safety regulations to reach their destinations safely.
