Another 3-Month Traffic Rule Relaxation In Odisha Comes With A Catch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday further relaxed the enforcement of traffic rules under the New Motor Vehicle Act 2019 across the state by another three months.

“After taking stock of the rush at RTO offices, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed for another three months relaxation to ensure that the motor vehicle users obtain the required documents,” Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera informed the Odisha Assembly.

However, there will be no relaxation for rash and drunken driving, over-speeding, driving against flow of traffic, using mobile while driving, triple riding on two-wheeler, overloading and  jumping the red light, he said.

No further extension will be granted after this, the Minister added.

The deadline for traffic rule relaxation, which was given to allow vehicle owners to ready the required documents, was scheduled to end on November 30 and the state government had earlier announced strict enforcement of the new traffic rules in Odisha from December 1.

But members cutting across party line expressed concern over the long queues at the RTO offices in the state and pointed at delay in getting the required vehicle documents because of inadequate staff.