Bhubaneswar, Dec 31: With the New Year set to be celebrated tomorrow, picnic activities have intensified across various tourist destinations in the state. However, a series of accidents involving picnic vehicles in recent days has raised concerns. In response, the Transport Department has issued a special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at preventing mishaps and ensuring public safety.

According to the SOP, vehicles heading for picnics and pilgrimages must obtain prior permission and permits from the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The guidelines place special emphasis on four key pillars — Enforcement, Engineering, Education, and Emergency response.

The department has announced strict checking at major forest picnic spots across the state, with inspections to be carried out at both entry and exit points. Strong action will be taken against violations such as drunk driving and over-speeding. Commuters have also been advised to strictly follow the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The SOP has been issued to ensure that people can celebrate the New Year safely and return home without incident. Joint enforcement drives are being conducted by Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVI) and the police department to check picnic vehicles. Bhubaneswar RTO-I officials stated that document verification and vehicle checks will be carried out rigorously during the New Year period.