The Odisha Government has been asked to incorporate a technology-based evaluation for issue of driving licences and a robust automated fitness certificate regime in the State.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has advised the State Government to go ahead with such reforms measures in the transport sector as most of the complaints are pouring in involving these two areas.
Concerned over the rising number of road accidents and casualty on roads and highways, the MoRTH has asked the Odisha Government to adopt such methods, so that there will be curb on road accidents in the State, which is one of the highest in the country.
Union Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Yudhvir Singh Malik has written to the Odisha Government in this regard as the Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) has recommended the same.
The MoRTH is making suitable amendments in the existing rules so that technology-based evaluation for issue of driving licences will be carried out instead of the present manual system, which has a lot of loopholes, pointed out an expert in the transport sector.
Transfer of driving licence from one State to another should be made online, so that the people will not face any hassle.
Similarly, the GoM has recommended a robust automated fitness certificate regime to objectively evaluate the fitness of transport vehicles.
The MoRTH has expressed concern over difficulties faced by public in transfer of vehicles from one State to another. It has noted that the huge variations in tax structure for vehicles across the State induce the vehicle owners to register their vehicles in low tax jurisdictions.
The GoM has recommended adoption of rates of life Time Tax Regime (for 15 years) on motor vehicles by all States, which includes that for below Rs 10 lakh Vehicle Invoice Price (VIP), rate of road tax will be 8 per cent, from Rs 10-20 lakh VIP, the rate of road tax will be 10 per cent and above Rs 20 lakh VIP, the rate of road tax will be 12 per cent.
While there will be 2 per cent extra levied for diesel vehicles, electric vehicles will be charged 2 per cent less. The State Government will have to notify the above rates immediately. The States which do not notify the above rates must provide for yearly payment of taxes, so that a person likely to shift to other State may opt for annual tax payment and do not suffer harassment on transfer, said the MoRTH.
The GoM has recommended that there should be no bar on transfer of vehicles from one State to another and the entire process should be system driven, pointed out the MoRTH.
The MoRTH has also suggested introduction of a system of national permit for passenger vehicles based on the policy of national permit of goods vehicles. While rates for luxury busses will be Rs 3 lakh per year, it will be Rs 2 lakh per year for deluxe busses and Rs 25,000 per annum for taxis.
The public transport in the country is growing annually at a rate of just about 2 per cent, as against a 20 per cent annual growth in private transport.
A national permit for passenger bus and taxi will give the much needed fillip to public transport and help reduce road congestion and its attendant problems.