Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: The Odisha government will intensify its crackdown on vehicles plying without valid insurance, with Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena directing officials to strictly enforce motor vehicle rules, officials said on Monday.
The state has 1,01,41,951 registered vehicles, of which only 35,68,318 have valid insurance, while 65,73,633 are without valid insurance, according to government data.
Under the enforcement drive, vehicles passing through toll gates will be subjected to automatic checks of insurance, fitness, pollution and other mandatory documents through the e-detection system, officials said.
Vehicles found without valid documents will be issued e-challans immediately, while habitual offenders may face cancellation of registration and seizure of their vehicles, they said.
The department will also step up enforcement and conduct awareness drives through Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), officials said.
Jena stressed the importance of valid insurance in ensuring compensation, as far as possible, to victims of road accidents, and said uninsured vehicles pose a risk to their owners as well as other road users.
The department also cited the Supreme Court’s recent observation that vehicles without valid insurance should not be supplied petrol or diesel, and that the Centre should consider introducing the measure initially as a pilot project.
The Commerce and Transport Department has urged vehicle owners to immediately renew their insurance, pollution certificates and other mandatory documents to avoid legal action.
