School bus slapped with Rs 4 lakh fine for multiple violations in Koraput

The Transport department of Odisha government on Wednesday reportedly slapped a fine of Rs 4 lakh on a school bus for various offences under the new Motor Vehicles Act.

In order to ensure that the buses engaged by educational institutions to transport students must follow road safety regulations, the regional transport office (RTO), Koraput launched an inspection drive on Wednesday. 

Sources said, during the inspection, SI of Traffic (OMVD) Rajnarayan Swain detained the bus of a private school located at Netaji Nagar in Semiliguda. 

Upon verification, it was found that the vehicle was in use without permit, registration and fitness certificate. The vehicle was immediately seized and a fine of Rs 4,01,500- Rs 3,80,000 towards violation of tax and Rs 21,500 towards fitness certificate- was imposed.
 
Notably, a special drive to inspect school buses and other light vehicles engaged to ferry students has been launched across the State from Wednesday, and it will continue till April 27. 

The Transport Commissioner had earlier issued a circular to all RTOs while directing them to issue challans against vehicles plying without a valid fitness certificate, permit, insurance, PUC certificate and tax among others.