The Motor Vehicles Department has registered complaints against 7,294 erring vehicles in an intensive drive conducted along the Aroor-Angamali stretch in the last one and a half months. The government has garnered a revenue of `50 lakhs from the fine imposed on these vehicles.
Deputy transport commissioner P A Sainudeen said that the inspection was carried out under the instruction of transport commissioner Rishiraj Singh.
As per the instruction, the Aroor - Angamali stretch was under surveillance for the past one and a half months. The department has registered cases against private buses on a variety of charges.
“Many of them were using air horns and electric horns which are strictly prohibited. Audio and video systems are completely banned in the state carriages. There were many buses who disregarded these rules blatantly. Cases were also registered against cleaners who usually make a loud noise by thumping on the buses. This action has invited accidents many a time. Stern actions were taken against such offenses”, he said. Hundred and ninenty nine drivers were booked by officials for offenses such as over speeding.
“Out of those, we have already recommended to suspend the licenses of 60 drivers”, the official said. Measures were taken against 1,734 vehicles for not removing sun screens.
Action was initiated against 648 tipper vehicles for offences such as not fixing speed governors, not covering the vehicles properly while carrying certain kinds of materials. Ninety schools buses were also charged for over speeding as they breached the allowed speed of 40 km per hour.
“Apart from these, some drivers did not have 10 years of experience which is mandatory for school buses”, said the official.
Seven squads from Central Zone 2 (Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki) were assigned to the inspection under the district transport commissioner.
Motor vehicle inspectors A Noufal, Biju James, Salim Vijayan, M V Ananthakrishnan and assistant motor vehicle inspector N Vinod Kumar were also part of the team.