Bhubaneswar, July 9: In a bid to curb fraud and strengthen crime prevention, the Odisha State Transport Authority (STA) has made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for all vehicle-related services, including new vehicle registration and transfer of ownership.

The decision, notified by the STA, mandates Aadhaar verification for processing registration and ownership transfer applications. Officials will verify the applicant's identity through OTP-based Aadhaar authentication and cross-check the registered address to ensure that the vehicle is being transferred to its rightful owner.

According to the notification, the measure has been introduced to prevent the misuse of vehicles in serious criminal activities such as murder, smuggling and kidnapping, while also enabling law enforcement agencies to quickly identify and trace the actual owners of vehicles used in crimes.

The new verification system is also expected to improve coordination between the Police and the Transport Department during investigations at accident sites and crime scenes. With the implementation of the Aadhaar-based authentication process, authorities will have easier access to vehicle records, including details of vehicles registered outside Odisha but operating within the state.

The STA has warned that strict action will be taken against officials found violating the new guidelines or failing to comply with the Aadhaar verification process.