Ministers and bureaucrats have a craze for Government vehicles. In a bid to impress the masses, ministers have changed the number plates of taxis. During an investigation by The Pioneer, it was found that several MlAs, especially who have been awarded cabinet minister status, have been travelling in a taxi but the taxis are carrying white number plates. Officially, the taxis should have yellow number plate, but they are running taxis with private number plates. Talking to The Pioneer, an official of RTO said that it is illegal, but helpless because most of the vehicles are being used by the Ministers and bureaucrats.

During investigation, it has revealed that 38 MlAs, including Congress and alliance partner better known as Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) which has seven MlAs, including three BSP, three Independent and one UKD (P), were given cabinet minister status by the Harish Rawat Government. By making them as president or vice president of different committee or commission Chief Minister has tried to appease their MlAs.

The State Government has been hiring private taxis to avoid misuse of public money. Earlier, driver used to submit inflated bills for the maintenance of the vehicles; so the Government has decided to hire taxis and even offered bureaucrats that "if you use your own vehicles, then Government will pay handsome amount against the use of vehicles."

Talking to The Pioneer, Additional Regional Transport officer Sandeep Saini said that running taxis by carrying white number plates is an offence and mentioned under section 177 of central motor vehicle act. If anyone uses them, it creates severe dent on the State exchequer.As per the norms, private taxi is supposed to pay Rs 430 per seat for next three months as commercial tax. For instance, if a person is running five seater car then taxi owner will have to pay Rs 2,150 per vehicle for three months or Rs 8,600 per annum.

During the Pioneer investigation it has revealed that hundreds of private taxis are being used by the state government or their ministers. Interestingly, they are carrying white number plates, but they are blatantly running in secretariat, Vidhan Sabha and Bijapur guest house as well.Saini further said that "we conduct regular checking to check commercial vehicles. During checking, we concentrate on yellow number plate carrying vehicle."

He further said that if any vehicle is carrying TA, then it is taxi. "Currently, we did not notice such number plates, but now onward, we will take care of it. We would send a letter to the department head, whosoever has hired the vehicle. If they fail to comply, we would appeal to the Government to take disciplinary action against the department head."

During The Pioneer investigation, it was found that several parliamentary secretaries, secretary and departments head are using such vehicles. By doing this they are putting impression among masses that the Government has provided them vehicles and taxi owners are running their vehicles with white number to evade tax as well.

Besides that, they are also carrying huge name plates at the hood of the vehicle. They are also displaying 'Government of India', Uttarakhand Government' or the names of Government offices on their private vehicles which amounts to misuse of rights accorded to public servants.

Such misuse of name plates or Government symbols was not only against the rules, but has also increased the possibility of administrative disorder, misuse of such vehicles and raises security concerns, he observed.

"Any person found doing so will be considered guilty of misusing the rights of public servants and action will be taken against such public servants under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 section 177," stressed ARTO Saini.