Bhubaneswar, September 6: The Odisha Government has taken an important step against violators of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Vehicle owners of the State without valid insurance, pollution certificate, will now receive e-challan on their cellphone number through e-detection system, which has been installed at strategic locations across the State.

The Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman, State Transport Authority in a notification said that the e-Detection system will be used for electronic detection of vehicles plying without valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC); and Insurance.

The enforcement activities through the e-Detection system has become operational in the State from September 1.

“It is hereby brought to the notice of all motor vehicle owners/users that possession of valid statutory documents, including Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) and Insurance, as applicable under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, is mandatory for motor vehicles plying on public roads,” the read the notification.

“In accordance with the applicable statutory provisions and orders of Government, the e-Detection system shall be used for electronic detection of vehicles plying without valid: (i) Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC); and (ii) Insurance,” it added.

On detection of such violation through the e-Detection system, e-Challan will be generated in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and the prescribed electronic enforcement procedure.

The STA urged the vehicle owners to verify the validity of their PUCC and Insurance and, wherever required, obtain/renew the same before plying the vehicle on public roads.

“It is further informed that under Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, vehicles having challans remaining undisposed beyond the statutory period are liable to be flagged as "Not to be Transacted" on the prescribed portal,” it further said.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also clarified that PUC testing is a transaction for the purpose of Rule 167.

“Accordingly, the prescribed pending-challan / "Not to be Transacted" check shall operate in the VAHAN-based PUC testing application. Vehicle owners having pending e-Challans are, therefore, advised to dispose the challan within the prescribed period,” it clarified.

“The above measures are being implemented as part of technology-enabled statutory enforcement for ensuring traffic discipline, environmental compliance, third-party protection and road safety,” it asserted.