Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up the drive against vehicles plying without obtaining the mandatory pollution under control (PUC) and fitness certificates.
Sharing this information on Thursday, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena told reporters that the government is set to intensify strict checking of vehicles operating in the state.
The Minister warned that vehicles found running without PUCC and fitness certificates, which are essential for safety, would face cancellation of registration. Therefore, vehicle owners must ensure that these certificates are obtained in time, he said.
Stressing the need proper fitness of a vehicle, Jena said fitness of vehicles, particularly those transporting school students, is necessary for safe travel of children.
Stating that the government is now set to check the fitness of vehicles, particularly school buses, through automated testing stations (ATS) instead of doing it manually.
These are specialised and automated facilities are designed to test the fitness and safety of vehicles, such as braking systems, lights, and emissions, without manual intervention.
Fitness will be checked at ATS centres to conduct accurate, objective, and automated fitness tests on vehicles to reduce human error and improve road safety. “Instead of manual inspection, machines will check the vehicle’s fitness and then certificate of fitness will be issued,” said Jena.
Meanwhile, the Minister informed the state Assembly that a large number of buses operated by educational institutions in the state are running without valid permits.
Replying to a question in the House, Jena said as many as 1,771 buses belonging to educational institutions across Odisha are operating without the required permits.
The Minister further stated in Bhubaneswar alone, 17 buses of educational institutions have been found transporting students without valid permits.
According to official data, a total of 4,045 buses operated by educational institutions are currently engaged in transporting students across the state.
