Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, September 30: Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur on Monday took a serious view of the media reports of some individuals collecting money from vehicle drivers on the pretext of conducting road safety in Sundargarh district and directed RTO to lodge FIR against the wrongdoers.
Thakur also asked the district Collector and SP to take swift action to stop these illegal activities.
“The State Transport Authority (STA), Odisha, has noticed through various media reports that some individuals in Sundargarh district are collecting money from vehicle drivers under the false pretense of conducting road safety, using banners to mislead the public. The authority hereby clarifies to the public that this activity is completely illegal. No one has been granted permission to engage in such activities, and vehicle owners or drivers should neither trust nor pay these individuals,” said an official release.
According to STA communique, instructions have been issued to all RTOs across the state to take immediate action if such activities are reported in their areas, not just in Sundargarh.
“Thakur expressed concern that certain individuals are defrauding people in the name of road safety and assured that legal action is being taken to stop such activities. The public is requested to report any such incidents to their local transport authorities immediately. These fraudsters are often from outside the state and are primarily active in border districts and mining areas, targeting trucks and buses from other States,” it stated.
“Local administrations have been requested to take swift action to stop these activities and hold those responsible accountable,” it read.
