Bhubaneswar: A total of 153 minors were caught on the first day of the special drive launched by the State Transport Authority (STA) of Odisha on Monday to curb increasing menace of underage driving.
A total of 60 vehicles were also seized during the inspection as the STA started the two-day state-wide drive, official sources said.
All the 38 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) of the state carried out the special enforcement drive of the STA with special watch on the minor riders.
The special teams of the transport department conducted the checking at major traffic junctions and near the schools and colleges of different cities and Towns of the State.
The teams found many students, who are minors and did not have driving license, came to the educational institutions on their own bikes and scooters. Due to which, they were caught by the inspection teams under Section 199(a) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
While the maximum number of seven vehicles were seized in Rayagada, 6 vehicles each were seized in Rourkela and Balangir, 5 vehicles each were seized in Balasore and Sonepur.
Simiilarly, 4 vehicles were seized in Kalahandi, 3 each in Talcher, Angul, Bhubaneswar RTO-I and ARTO Khurda.
As many as 11 challans were issued by the Bhubaneswar RTO-II, 7 challans were issued by the Bhubaneswar RTO-I and 3 challans were issued by the Khurda ARTO. Likewise, the Kalahandi RTO issued a total of 12 challans, Cuttack RTO issued 10 challans, Koraput RTO issued 8 challans and 7 each challans were issued by the Ganjam and Rayagada RTOs.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, there is a provision to impose a fine of Rs 25,000 against the guardian or owner of the vehicle. There is even a provision of imprisonment up to 3 years in some cases. There is also the provision to seize the vehicles.
Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur said such enforcement drive across the state will continue. Enforcement will be done not only on minor/underage driving, but also on issues like fitness, helmet, seat belt, speeding, drunk driving, he said.
