Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the huge rush at the offices of the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) across Odisha, the State government on Thursday relaxed the enforcement of new traffic rules by another three months.
Informing about the development, Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera in Odisha Assembly announced that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today directed for extension of the relaxation window for vehicle owners by three months.
“Today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the situation and has directed that extension of another three months be given to ensure the motor vehicle users to obtain required documents and ensure full compliance with the provisions of the MV Act,” said Behera in a statement.
Behera further clarified that this extension is being given for the last time and further extension will not be granted. However, there will be strict enforcement against drunken driving, over-speeding, driving against flow of traffic, using mobile phone while driving, triple riding on two wheelers, over loading, jumping red light, not wearing helmet or seat belt.
In case, any motorist is found in contravention of any of the road safety provisions, the documents will also be checked.
Senior officials of Odisha government informed that compliance of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act is in the best interest of the motorists. The Transport department has been directed to continue with their effort to provide documents expeditiously to the vehicle owners and intensify road safety awareness.
It is pertinent to mention here that Odisha government had earlier relaxed the enforcement of the new guidelines of the Motor Vehicles Act for three months in September following a scuffle between public and Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar.
Though the relaxation window was supposed to close on December 1, the State government was forced to extend such relaxations owing to heavy rush at RTO offices across the State. Keeping in view the problems faced by the people, leaders cutting across party lines today raised the issue in Odisha Assembly.