KOCHI: Traffic rule violators hiding behind the inordinate delay in disbursing memos, beware.
The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) is joining hands with the state-run electronic enterprise Keltron to speed up the delivery process. If things go as envisaged, the memos will soon knock at the registered addresses within a day of the violation.
With MVD managing to send only around 2,500 memos of an average total of 8,000 traffic violations per day, the department was left facing huge financial losses due to the delay in the memo-issuing process. That when 245 automated cameras installed across the state were busy ‘catching’ violators red-handed.
According to Joint Transport Commissioner Rajeev Puthalath, the decision was taken to plug the revenue loss.
“As per the new decision taken by the Transport Commissioner, Keltron will be the facilitator for sending the memos. They will appoint sufficient staff to send all memos the same day. The New Indian Express report on the issue prompted us to come up with such a plan,” said Rajeev Puthalath.
Given the rising number of road accidents, and the shortage of staff being a huge factor in causing the delay and allowing violators go scot-free, Express had highlighted the issue through a report that appeared on June 10 this year under the headline ‘Fine alone is not fine’.
The department also plans to clear the backlog of files by the end of December this year.
“MVD will have to spend `20 for each memo as per the agreement with Keltron,” said Rajeev. “Throughout these four to five months, we will clear all the pending files with the help of the Keltron officers. By December 1, the offenders will be getting the memos within a day. Keltron will begin the data processing work from August 1.”
With motorists giving scant regard to traffic rules, the state exchequer’s loss has touched `30.94 crore, as per data with the department.
And the report for the past five years available with the department shows over 7.54 lakh motorists have ignored the fine issued against MVD memos.
With Motor Vehicles Department clearing the backlog files, it will also start sending reminders to the traffic violators. “We will identify the motorists who have committed multiple crimes,” Rajeev said.
“Those who have failed to heed our request to pay the fine more than five times will be issued a special reminder. If they fail to pay up again, procedures like revenue recovery and other prosecution steps will be initiated. A direction has been forwarded to RTO to identify such motorists. On July 18, a review meeting of the same will be held.”