Road Safety / CAG Report: 19.14 Lakh Vehicles In Odisha Operating Without HSRP; Rs 1136 Crore E-Challans Unresolved
·1 hour ago·5 min read
Key Points
A CAG audit flagged irregularities in Odisha's transport system, including 2,988 two-wheeler riders challaned for not wearing seat belts and 4,786 car drivers fined for not wearing helmets.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 1: A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audit report has flagged several irregularities in Odisha's road transport and traffic enforcement system, including incorrect e-challans, unresolved fines worth over Rs 1,136 crore, revenue losses linked to incomplete challans and shortcomings in vehicle registration, permits, licences and road safety enforcement.
Among the striking findings cited in the audit are cases where 2,988 two-wheeler riders were issued challans for not wearing seat belts, while 4,786 car and auto-rickshaw drivers were fined for not wearing helmets.
The report also found that 39.55 lakh e-challans involving fines of Rs 1,136.62 crore remained unresolved between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Incorrect Traffic Challans Flagged
According to the audit findings, the e-challan system recorded several cases where the offence mentioned in the challan did not correspond with the vehicle type.
Among the striking findings cited in the audit are cases where 2,988 two-wheeler riders were issued challans for not wearing seat belts, while 4,786 car and auto-rickshaw drivers were fined for not wearing helmets.
The report also found that 39.55 lakh e-challans involving fines of Rs 1,136.62 crore remained unresolved between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Incorrect Traffic Challans Flagged
According to the audit findings, the e-challan system recorded several cases where the offence mentioned in the challan did not correspond with the vehicle type.
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A total of 2,988 motorcycle riders were shown as having violated seat-belt rules, resulting in fines totalling Rs 29.88 lakh.
Similarly, 4,786 car and auto-rickshaw drivers were issued challans for allegedly not wearing helmets, with fines amounting to Rs 47.86 lakh.
The audit also found instances where vehicles had committed multiple serious traffic violations, but enforcement personnel recorded only one or two minor offences while issuing challans.
As a result, in 13.65 lakh cases, fines worth around Rs 640.87 crore could not be realised, according to the report. The audit estimated that the total potential revenue loss linked to such challans could be around Rs 1,777.49 crore.
Rs 1,136 Crore In Unresolved E-Challans
The CAG report found that 39.55 lakh e-challans remained pending for settlement across Odisha between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
The total value of the fines involved was around Rs 1,136.62 crore.
Similarly, 4,786 car and auto-rickshaw drivers were issued challans for allegedly not wearing helmets, with fines amounting to Rs 47.86 lakh.
The audit also found instances where vehicles had committed multiple serious traffic violations, but enforcement personnel recorded only one or two minor offences while issuing challans.
As a result, in 13.65 lakh cases, fines worth around Rs 640.87 crore could not be realised, according to the report. The audit estimated that the total potential revenue loss linked to such challans could be around Rs 1,777.49 crore.
Rs 1,136 Crore In Unresolved E-Challans
The CAG report found that 39.55 lakh e-challans remained pending for settlement across Odisha between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
The total value of the fines involved was around Rs 1,136.62 crore.
The findings also pointed to shortcomings in the collection of outstanding taxes. Under the government's One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, around Rs 530 crore in outstanding taxes was targeted for collection.
However, only 1.83 per cent, or around Rs 9.71 crore, had been collected, according to the audit findings.
The report also found that green tax amounting to Rs 126.60 crore remained outstanding from 8.53 lakh vehicles that were more than 15 years old.
Tax Collected From Exempted Electric Vehicles
The audit also flagged the collection of taxes from electric vehicles that were eligible for complete tax exemption under the applicable rules.
According to the findings, tax amounting to Rs 73.75 lakh was collected from 653 electric vehicles, despite the vehicles being eligible for full tax exemption.
Also Read: Luxury Retreats, Lean Returns: CAG Audit Raises Questions Over Previous Odisha Govt’s Eco Retreat Model
Safety Compliance Gaps
The CAG report also highlighted shortcomings concerning passenger and women travellers' safety.
Under the Nirbhaya framework, vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons are mandatory in passenger vehicles.
However, the audit found that 1,246 vehicles, including 954 new buses and 190 ambulances, were registered without vehicle location tracking systems.
The report further found that 19.14 lakh active vehicles in Odisha were operating without high-security registration plates (HSRP). This included 1.52 lakh vehicles registered after 2019.
Permit And Licence Irregularities
The audit also pointed to irregularities in the state's transport-related software systems, including Optics, Sarathi and Vahan.
According to the report, 20,256 passenger and commercial vehicles were operating without valid fitness certificates while taxes continued to be collected from them through the Vahan software.
The audit also identified 239 passenger buses operating without permits, including 152 in Kalahandi and 87 in Rourkela.
In another finding, the audit examined nine RTOs where 29,154 applicants who had applied for licences to drive four-wheelers were issued driving licences based on two-wheeler driving tests.
Software Data Throws Up Improbable Records
The audit also found several anomalies in transport permit records.
Records showed 32 buses travelling more than 10,000 km in a single day, which the audit considered geographically impossible.
In another 23 cases, permits were issued even though the recorded journey distance of the buses was zero.
The audit further found 1,537 cases where vehicle owners had applied for permits after the date on which the permits had already been approved.
These findings pointed to discrepancies in the digital transport management system, according to the report.
Also Read: CAG Exposes Lapses In 5T School Projects During Previous Odisha Govt
School Buses Given Different Permit Categories
The audit also found irregularities involving vehicles registered as school and college buses.
According to the findings, 210 vehicles registered as school or college buses were issued private service vehicle permits carrying lower tax rates, resulting in a tax loss of around Rs 1.58 crore.
The audit further found that 19 school buses were classified as goods vehicles, while 32 school buses were recorded as express or deluxe services.
Road Safety Targets Not Achieved
The audit also examined Odisha's road safety performance.
Under the Road Safety Policy of Odisha, 2015, the state had set a target of reducing road accidents by 50 per cent and fatalities by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, road accident deaths increased from 4,303 in 2015 to 5,739 in 2023, according to the figures cited in the audit.
Between 2019 and 2022, 6,429 people died in road accidents reportedly linked to non-use of helmets, while 2,185 people lost their lives in crashes linked to non-use of seat belts.
Road Safety Fund Remains Unspent
The CAG report also flagged the non-utilisation of funds meant for road safety.
According to the audit, Rs 86.39 crore from the State Road Safety Fund constituted pursuant to Supreme Court directions remained unspent in a bank account.
The report further stated that Rs 17.40 crore in interest had accumulated on the unspent amount.
The findings collectively point to gaps in traffic enforcement, revenue collection, vehicle safety compliance, licensing, permit management and the functioning of digital transport systems in Odisha.
However, only 1.83 per cent, or around Rs 9.71 crore, had been collected, according to the audit findings.
The report also found that green tax amounting to Rs 126.60 crore remained outstanding from 8.53 lakh vehicles that were more than 15 years old.
Tax Collected From Exempted Electric Vehicles
The audit also flagged the collection of taxes from electric vehicles that were eligible for complete tax exemption under the applicable rules.
According to the findings, tax amounting to Rs 73.75 lakh was collected from 653 electric vehicles, despite the vehicles being eligible for full tax exemption.
Also Read: Luxury Retreats, Lean Returns: CAG Audit Raises Questions Over Previous Odisha Govt’s Eco Retreat Model
Safety Compliance Gaps
The CAG report also highlighted shortcomings concerning passenger and women travellers' safety.
Under the Nirbhaya framework, vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons are mandatory in passenger vehicles.
However, the audit found that 1,246 vehicles, including 954 new buses and 190 ambulances, were registered without vehicle location tracking systems.
The report further found that 19.14 lakh active vehicles in Odisha were operating without high-security registration plates (HSRP). This included 1.52 lakh vehicles registered after 2019.
Permit And Licence Irregularities
The audit also pointed to irregularities in the state's transport-related software systems, including Optics, Sarathi and Vahan.
According to the report, 20,256 passenger and commercial vehicles were operating without valid fitness certificates while taxes continued to be collected from them through the Vahan software.
The audit also identified 239 passenger buses operating without permits, including 152 in Kalahandi and 87 in Rourkela.
In another finding, the audit examined nine RTOs where 29,154 applicants who had applied for licences to drive four-wheelers were issued driving licences based on two-wheeler driving tests.
Software Data Throws Up Improbable Records
The audit also found several anomalies in transport permit records.
Records showed 32 buses travelling more than 10,000 km in a single day, which the audit considered geographically impossible.
In another 23 cases, permits were issued even though the recorded journey distance of the buses was zero.
The audit further found 1,537 cases where vehicle owners had applied for permits after the date on which the permits had already been approved.
These findings pointed to discrepancies in the digital transport management system, according to the report.
Also Read: CAG Exposes Lapses In 5T School Projects During Previous Odisha Govt
School Buses Given Different Permit Categories
The audit also found irregularities involving vehicles registered as school and college buses.
According to the findings, 210 vehicles registered as school or college buses were issued private service vehicle permits carrying lower tax rates, resulting in a tax loss of around Rs 1.58 crore.
The audit further found that 19 school buses were classified as goods vehicles, while 32 school buses were recorded as express or deluxe services.
Road Safety Targets Not Achieved
The audit also examined Odisha's road safety performance.
Under the Road Safety Policy of Odisha, 2015, the state had set a target of reducing road accidents by 50 per cent and fatalities by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, road accident deaths increased from 4,303 in 2015 to 5,739 in 2023, according to the figures cited in the audit.
Between 2019 and 2022, 6,429 people died in road accidents reportedly linked to non-use of helmets, while 2,185 people lost their lives in crashes linked to non-use of seat belts.
Road Safety Fund Remains Unspent
The CAG report also flagged the non-utilisation of funds meant for road safety.
According to the audit, Rs 86.39 crore from the State Road Safety Fund constituted pursuant to Supreme Court directions remained unspent in a bank account.
The report further stated that Rs 17.40 crore in interest had accumulated on the unspent amount.
The findings collectively point to gaps in traffic enforcement, revenue collection, vehicle safety compliance, licensing, permit management and the functioning of digital transport systems in Odisha.
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