Odisha to seize vehicles plying without insurance

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to seize vehicles plying on the roads without valid insurance coverage. Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has expressed deep concern over the large number of vehicles plying in the State without valid insurance.

As per the Supreme Court’s directions, the minister has instructed departmental officers to take strict action against violators. Documents like valid insurance, fitness, and pollution certificates for vehicles passing through all Sate tollgates will be automatically checked an official statement said.

Vehicles without valid documents will immediately be issued an e-challan, and steps will be taken to cancel the registration certificate and confiscate the vehicles as a legal measure against habitual violators. Of the State’s total 1.01 crore vehicles, only 35.68 lakh have valid insurance, while 75.73 lakh are running without the document, the statement said. Keeping this in view, the department has asked regional transport officers (RTOs) to create widespread public awareness and increase enforcement.

Valid insurance is essential to ensure road accident victims are compensated as much as possible. Therefore, those who violate these rules endanger themselves as well as others. The government has appealed to all vehicle owners to immediately update their documents like insurance, pollution certificate, fitness certificate, etc in order to comply with the legal regulations and fulfil their responsibility towards society.