For a vehicle to ply on a public road, it is mandatory to have valid documents like registration certificate, fitness certificate and permit. If it is a transport vehicle, insurance and Pollution under Control Certificate (PUCC) and driving licence for all vehicle drivers are required.

As per sample data collected from NH tollgates, it is observed that a substantial number of vehicles are plying without valid documents. To detect such vehicles in Odisha, the Transport Department has developed an e-detection portal.

Joint Commissioner Transport, (Technical) Dipti Ranjan Patra said, “The portal will keep a check on such vehicles in a seamless manner. The objective of the portal is to collect the data from various toll gates on the National Highways. In the first phase toll gates of the NHAI have been integrated with the portal.”

Later, data would be collected from mining and industrial areas as well. The data will be collected, analysed with details in Vahan portal and automatically challan will be generated for the vehicles plying without valid documents,” he informed.

The data would be collected in accordance to those fetched through the FASTag and images captured when a vehicle would pass through a tollgate. Immediate information would alert the vehicle owners and help in reducing road accidents and fatalities. “If any untoward incident or accident occurs, the vehicle owner or victim will not get any insurance claim if the vehicle involved does not have valid documents,” Patra said

He urged the vehicle owners to keep the vehicle documents up-to-date. “In order to curb accidents, it is important for all motor owners to follow the ruled laid in the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. Vehicle owners must also ensure that they have all the necessary documents to avoid penalties,” he said.

The department is planning to start e-detection on the NHS with effect from January 1, 2023.