The Transport department of Odisha government on Thursday slapped a whopping penalty of over Rs 2.33 lakh on a school bus for flouting several protocols under the amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019.
The officials of Regional Transport Office-II in Bhubaneswar seized the bus during an inspection drive near Damana square in the city and levied a penalty of Rs 2,33234 against the bus owner.
According to a challan issued by the transport authorities, the school bus has been fined Rs 500 for general offence, Rs 10,000 for violating air and noise pollution and Rs 10,000 for not having a valid permit.
Similarly, penalties of Rs 5,000 for driving without registration and fitness certificate, and Rs 2,000 for plying without insurance have also been levied on the school bus.
The transport officials have also challaned Rs 20,5734 on the bus for defaulting on payment of OMV Tax from 1.3.2020 to 3.4.2022.
The action against the school bus was taken under a special drive launched by the Odisha government for extensive checking of buses and other light vehicles used for carrying school students. The special drive will continue till April 27.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Transport department had slapped a fine of Rs 4 lakh on a school bus for violating the MV Act rules in Koraput.
According to reports, the government pulled up as many as 236 school buses and light vehicles carrying school children for flouting safety and traffic provisions on the first day of the inspection drive. At least 173 vehicles did not have valid fitness while 85 of them lacked permits as well.