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Bhubaneswar, April 3: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found several financial and administrative irregularities in the transport sector and recommended revision of Orissa Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1975.
In its latest report on revenue sector for the year-ended March 2014, the auditor found irregularities to tune of Rs 128.25crore relating to motor vehicle tax, additional tax, registration fee, permit fee, driving licence fee, etc. in 37 regional transport offices (RTOs) in 2013-14.
The CAG also checked records of four OSRTC (Orissa State Road Transport Corporation) units and found irregularities involving Rs 15.59crore in 609 cases.
Similarly, the motor vehicle tax and additional tax of Rs 3.34crore remained unrealised from 956 goods carriages of other states and regions.
“Due to non-renewal of fitness certificates of 164 school buses, 10,541 auto-rickshaws and 2,843 omni-buses, the safety of students and passengers could not be ensured. This led to non-realisation of fees and penalty of Rs 43.75lakh,” the auditor mentioned in its report.
Non-renewal of certificates of registration of 1,77,651 non-transport vehicles led to a loss of Rs 6.63crore and non-issue of permanent permits to tractor trailer combinations at the time of registration led to non-realisation of application fee and permit fee of Rs 3.40 crore, it said.
Besides, the government has issued certificates of fitness to 1,20,939 vehicles without ensuring pollution under control certificates.
The auditor advised the state government to develop a mechanism to ensure compliance of instructions for scrupulous collection of motor vehicle tax and fees as per provisions of the Act and rules. It also suggested early formation of state road safety council.
