TV
In a significant revelation, the Accountant General (AG) has uncovered serious irregularities in Odisha Transport Department, highlighting the lapses in fund management, safety compliance, and project execution. The findings were presented through the audit report’s compliance and investigation sections, sources said on Friday.
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The report points to mismanagement in advance payments for electric vehicles (EVs), citing irregularities in the disbursement of funds. A faulty budget estimate led to Rs 75.07 crore remaining either unutilised or surrendered without proper usage, the AG noted.
Additionally, the audit flagged a serious threat to student safety as many school buses continue to operate without renewed fitness certificates. The lack of timely certification could pose life-threatening risks, the AG warned.
The Transport Department has responded to AG’s observations and claimed that necessary steps are being taken. Specific instructions have been issued to the State Transport Authority (STA) officials to act on the flagged issues.
The report also highlights delays in completing RFID-based automated driving test tracks across various Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).
Furthermore, the AG criticised the Transport Department for its ‘inefficiency’ in implementing road safety measures. In its defence, the department stated that such activities fall under the purview of the Odisha Road Safety Society.
No comments were received from the Transport Department in this regard.
Worth mentioning, Odisha Road Safety Society (ORSS), operating under the State Transport Authority-Odisha, aims to enhance road safety and reduce road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities across the State.
The ORSS aligns with national and state efforts to address the public health crisis of road traffic accidents, which are a leading cause of death and injury in Odisha. By focusing on education, training, infrastructure improvements, and community involvement, the society aims to create safer roads for all users, including vulnerable groups like pedestrians and cyclists.
