CUTTACK: An enforcement squad of the Odisha Motor Vehicle Department (OMVD) headed by the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Cuttack on Monday seized three private buses that were engaged in carrying students of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (OAV) at Govindpur in Dampada block, for allegedly plying without valid motor vehicle (MV) documents.
The enforcement team was carrying out checking at Jatamundia Chhak in Banki when it intercepted the three private buses while they were transporting the schoolchildren.
RTO, Cuttack Biswajit Dash said during verification, it was found that neither of the three buses possessed any valid permit, fitness and insurance certificates. “Road tax of the three buses was also unpaid. Despite the absence of mandatory documents, the buses were being used to transport schoolchildren,” he added.
The seized buses were kept on the premises of the Automated Testing Station at Naraj and challans amounting to Rs 2 lakh issued against them. Steps are being taken to suspend the registration certificates (RCs) of the seized buses, the RTO informed. He said the enforcement drive is being carried out on a weekly basis every Monday and it will be intensified across the district in the coming days.
Meanwhile, OAV principal Deepa Mohanty said it was not the responsibility of the school authorities to manage vehicles carrying students to school. “Parents and guardians have been clearly told during the admission time to bear the responsibility of carrying students to school till construction of the hostel facility is completed,” she added.