Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 May: A coordinated enforcement drive by the Transport Department has cited 58 motorists for offences ranging from missing helmets to lapsed insurance in a bid to stem a spurt in crashes involving defective or undocumented vehicles. Teams fanned out across Sri Vijaya Puram, Ferrargunj, Mayabunder, Hut Bay, Swaraj Dweep and Diglipur during the second week of May, flagging autos without fare meters, bikes without pollution certificates and cars whose seat-belt reminders went ignored.
Officials backing the operation say rising casualty figures trace directly to road-worthiness neglect and paperwork lapses. The sweep combined on-spot challans with a new database cross-check to identify habitual defaulters. Those tagged multiple times will now face higher compounding fines and possible licence suspension.
Inspectors reported common violations: riders sans BIS-grade helmets, drivers clipping town limits at over 50 kmph, auto rickshaws ferrying tourists with dormant fare meters, and white-plate cars moonlighting for hire without permits. At least 12 private vehicles were caught operating on expired fitness certificates, a red flag for tyre and brake failure risk on hill roads.
Transport headquarters has instructed all State Transport Service unit offices to streamline citizen access to registration and licensing desks so that compliance hurdles cannot be cited as an excuse. Meanwhile, enforcement squads will maintain roving checkpoints through the monsoon build-up, a season when slick surfaces amplify the consequences of worn treads and faulty brakes. Drivers are reminded that fines escalate sharply after the first default and that digital challan records follow vehicles even if ownership changes.
