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Bhubaneswar: Even though activity has started to pick up as compared to a couple of months back, it is nowhere near normal. Confirming the pattern, Odisha government registered a drop of nearly 58 per cent in motor vehicle revenue in the quarter from April to June, 2020.
As per the data released by Odisha State Transport Authority (STA), Rs 159.8 crore has been collected in the quarter from April to June 2020 against the total collection of Rs 384 crore during the same quarter last year.
The revenue collection was Rs 28.66 crore in April against Rs 166.2 crore during April 2019. The revenue collection decreased by 67 per cent in the month of May, which saw Rs 35 crore collection against Rs 105 crore in April 2019.
Though, motor vehicle revenue picked up on a month-on-month basis in June with a collection of Rs 96 crore, it was still lower compared to the same period in 2019, when the total collection stood at Rs 112.7 crore; signifying a decline of 14.8 per cent.
As per the Transport department officials, it is encouraging as several parts of the State are either in lockdown or shutdown throughout the quarter. As per STA officials, the vehicle sales has picked up with 49,000 vehicles sold so far despite lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Motor vehicle revenue has picked up in the state during the month of June 2020, with collection of 96 crores against 112.7 Crores collected in June 2019. pic.twitter.com/eOqpnJpm6v
— STA Odisha (@STAOdisha) July 21, 2020
While 15,000 vehicles were sold in May, 29,000 vehicles have been sold till July 20, 2020. Only 2,599 vehicles were sold in the month of April 2020.
As per official sources, there has been a considerable drop in the sale of vehicles due to lockdown since March this year. On an average, 60,000 vehicles are sold in a month during normal time. During 2019, 75,000, 66,000 and 64,000 vehicles were sold in the months of April, May and June, respectively.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is also a loss of revenue from driving licences including learner licence as no new tests are being conducted in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, the State government has also exempted buses from paying taxes for the first quarter.
The Revenue from enforcement activities also went down as RTO staffs were busy in organising transport for migrants, operating border check posts and assisting administration during lockdown and shutdown in different parts of the State.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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