Road Safety / Odisha Launches Enforcement Drive Against Vehicles Without Valid Fitness, Insurance

Bhubaneswar, Aug 10: In a major crackdown on non-compliant motor vehicles, the State Transport Authority (STA) in Odisha has launched a strict enforcement drive targeting vehicles operating without valid fitness certificates, insurance, and permits, officials said on Monday.

Expressing grave concern over widespread documentation defaults, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena directed departmental officials to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against traffic law violators.

The aggressive drive comes in response to directives from the Supreme Court aimed at ensuring strict, end-to-end enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act across the state.

Addressing a key area of concern, Minister Jena highlighted a sharp deficit in active insurance coverage. Out of 1,01,41,951 registered vehicles in Odisha, a staggering 65,73,633 operate without valid insurance, leaving only 35,68,318 with updated documentation. To counter this extensive non-compliance alongside missing fitness and permit credentials, the state is heavily leveraging its automated e-detection system across all toll plazas.

The e-detection technology automatically scans passing vehicles to verify credentials—including third-party insurance, fitness certificates, Pollution Under Control (PUC) documentation, and route permits. Vehicles found operating with invalid or missing paper credentials will face immediate, automated e-challans.

For persistent offenders, enforcement authorities will initiate severe legal remedies, including the cancellation of vehicle registration certificates and impounding non-compliant automobiles on the spot. Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been instructed to scale up ground-level enforcement while launching public awareness campaigns across all districts.
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Emphasizing the rationale behind the drive, the Minister noted that valid insurance, fitness, and permits are essential for public safety and for ensuring proper compensation to road accident victims.

The Transport Department has urged all vehicle owners to renew their insurance and pollution certificates promptly, stressing that compliance is both a legal obligation and a social responsibility.