Authorities crack down on private vehicles plying illegally on routes

Bareilly: In a major crackdown against vehicles operating illegally on UP roads, the transport authority, along with UPSRTC, launched a crackdown in various UP districts in the past 4-5 days, to ensure passengers’ safety. In Bareilly division, including Bareilly, Pilibhit, Badaun and Shahjahanpur, around 1,000 vehicles were checked and 243 drivers caught and challaned for operating vehicles illegally. As many as 84 vehicles were impounded and around Rs 6 lakh recovered in fines. Sources said the crackdown will continue till December 25.

Speaking to TOI, UPSRTC managing director Raj Shekhar said, “The pan-UP drive focuses on checking drivers of private vehicles violating rules pertaining to permits and safety norms. It has been observed that private vehicles, having contract carriage permit, operate outside the permit and ferry passengers randomly from different places. Besides, transport authorities have also been alerted to check for vehicles carrying more passengers than capacity, speeding, etc. Such vehicles (light and heavy) have been penalised for violating permit norms.”

According to information received, regional transport offices (RTOs) and UPSRTC regional offices jointly conducted inspections over the past 4-5 days, and intercepted around 5,000 vehicles, of which, around 2,400 were spotted plying illegally (not carrying valid permit), of which, around 700 were impounded. The UPSRTC MD added, “RTOs, ARTOs and regional managers have been directed to cancel permits of erring drivers and vehicle registrations, and prepare a report on habitual offenders.”

Official sources at Bareilly RTO said transport authorities have geared up to tackle the issue, as violations put lives of passengers at risk. Senior ARTO (Bareilly) R P Singh said, “Vehicles with contract carriage permits (which allows vehicles to be hired as chartered vehicles for a group, but can’t take individual passengers) are under the scanner. Only vehicles having stage carriage permits are authorised to ply on routes that consist of stages, where passengers can be picked up or dropped.” He added, “Most vehicles that faced legal action were carrying contact carriage permit but operating like stage carriage permit vehicles.”