Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) for stringent enforcement measures to track down vehicles plying without valid documents, including fitness certificate and permit.

The Transport Commissioner has asked the RTOs across the state to launch special enforcement drives at regular intervals to detect vehicles plying without valid fitness certificates, permits and other documents.

“The recent fatal road accident at Baripada has brought to light serious violations of the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act,1988. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the vehicles involved in the accident were operating without valid fitness certificates, thereby posing grave risk to public safety and road users,” said the Transport Commissioner in an office order on Saturday.

As per the direction, the RTOs can obtain details about the vehicles plying without valid fitness certificates and other documents from VAHAN portal.

The officials have been asked to initiate prompt legal action against such vehicles in accordance with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

“The RTOs have been asked to initiate prompt legal action including seizure and suspension/cancellation of registration of vehicles for violations of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,” said the Transport Commissioner.

The commissioner has asked the RTOs to submit detailed reports pertaining to the violation of the Motor Vehicles Act under their respective jurisdictions on weekly basis for constant monitoring.