The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) on Friday seized five heavy vehicles, including concrete mixers, for operating without fitness certificates and valid permits in the guise of being hired for Kochi Metro works.
Vehicles have been moved to workshops for making them road worthy.
“They will be allowed on the road only after they paid the fine, get the repairs done and produced before the RTO for fitness test,” said Motor Vehicle Inspector A. Noufal. Assistant MVIs Bright Immanual and Niby K.X were also part of the flying squad.
The action comes in the wake of MVD’s decision to crack down on vehicles plying without valid documents under the cover of ongoing Kochi Metro works.
However, it has now come to the notice of the department that the enforcement authorities’ decision to largely spare vehicles engaged by Kochi Metro is being widely exploited.
Deputy Transport Commissioner K.G. Samuel has ordered strict action against such vehicles.
The department will continue the drive with a large number of vehicles, including from other States, operating in the city for Kochi Metro work.
Meanwhile, action was also taken against seven autorickshaws in the city engaged for transporting students on charge of overloading.
MVD plans to crack down on vehicles plying without valid documents under the cover of ongoing Kochi Metro works.