7 Enforcement Units Conduct Vehicle Checking, Major Lapses Detected
The emphasis was on the fitness and safety of passenger vehicles as well as ensuring an accident-free and secured journey for the travellers: Director General (DG), vigilance and enforcement, Shikha Goel
HYDERABAD: A two-day special vehicle checking drive aimed at plugging in revenue leakages in the form of evasion of Goods and Services Tax (GST), seigniorage of minor minerals, agricultural marketing fees and others, were conducted under the supervision of officials from the vigilance and enforcement department.
Explaining about the special exercise, Director General (DG), vigilance and enforcement, Shikha Goel, said the emphasis was on the fitness and safety of passenger vehicles as well as ensuring an accident-free and secured journey for the travellers.
Seven regional V&E units along with 30 dedicated teams were deployed strategically across the state to monitor movement of passenger vehicles, especially buses and other regular vehicles.
Officials drawn from the transport, mining, commercial taxes, agricultural marketing and forest departments joined the V&E teams and carried out comprehensive checks of vehicles with focus on fitness, provision of emergency exits, fire safety aspect, any unauthorised alterations as well as compliance as per the transport permits.
Members of the vigilance teams also had an interaction with the passengers, who expressed satisfaction and confidence in the department for taking proactive measures. Many passengers said that such checks should be taken on a regular basis to strengthen public trust.
Speaking further, the DG said that altogether 2623 vehicles were examined, of which 195 were seized and a sum of ₹37,45,37O was realised for violations of the transport rules. In addition, 123 vehicles were also seized for defaulting under the mining, and GST Act, as well as agricultural marketing fees and other applicable laws, with penalties of ₹40.96 lakh was imposed on the violators.
During the checking of passenger vehicles, several lapses were detected such as expired fire extinguishers were found installed in the vehicles, absence of first-aid kits, non-functioning of emergency doors, lack of awareness among passengers about the emergency exits, transportation of goods against the permissible limits, seating capacity was increased without seeking valid permits under Motor Vehicle Act, and thereby affecting passenger’s safety, the DG explained.