Overspeeding has become untenable for private contract carriages with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) continuing its Operation Night Rider drive for the third consecutive day on Friday.
The department impounded the permits of carriages that failed to pay fine despite getting repeatedly caught overspeeding in CCTV cameras.
The move comes on the instructions of Transport Commissioner Sudesh Kumar to RTOs to collect pending penalty dues from contract carriages in the wake of the Kallada incident.
“We impounded the permit of a vehicle of SRS Travels after the operator failed to pay fine that had run up to ₹82,400 despite being issued 206 check reports on overspeeding. We were about to refer the case to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). But then the owner paid the entire fine as soon as action was taken,” said K. Manoj Kumar, Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement).
Besides, officials of the special squad fielded under Operation Night Rider have been given a list of contract carriages that had failed to pay penalties. The officials have been asked to either collect pending dues or impound permits.
“Since unilateral action cannot be taken against contract carriages with national permit, the case of operators who do not clear pending dues will be placed before the RTA and referred to the State Transport Authority, which may in turn refer it to the authorities of the States concerned with a recommendation to suspend the permit,” Mr. Kumar said.
Five more cases
Meanwhile, the crackdown on contract carriages found engaged in unauthorised stage carriage operations continued in the district, with five buses slapped with cases, while another two were charged for using air-horn.
Altogether, action was taken against 25 buses, and ₹75,000 was collected as fine.
The MVD had conducted a drive against illegal stage carriage operations earlier this month and had even charged an operator with a fine of ₹1.82 lakh for unauthorised operation.
The drive resumed following the incident in which three passengers were allegedly assaulted by the staff of contract carriage operator Suresh Kallada.
