Finally, the long queues and altercations at border check-posts would soon be a thing of the past with the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) issuing orders to wind up round-the-clock check-post surveillance and redeploy officers. However, MVD sleuths will intercept tax-evading vehicles at selected checkpoints in the State.
The order says Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) (Enforcement) should collect details of tax-evading vehicles from GST Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and intercept them for tax realisation and legal action.
The interception should be at strategic points and not on the State borders. The locations of squads deputed for enforcement should be within a geo-fenced area. The list of such geo-fenced checkpoints will be furnished to the different wings concerned by the RTOs (Enforcement).
After redeploying the entire staff from the border check-posts, the Deputy Transport Commissioners should post a motor vehicle inspector, an assistant motor vehicle inspector, and an office attendant per check-post for 15 days on rotation in a district.
The officers will be shortlisted based on their antecedents and guidelines issued by the government. The duty time of these officers will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No officer will be allowed to continue at check-posts beyond the time limit.
A daily report of tax realised at the geo-fenced checkpoints and check-posts (day duty time) should be furnished by the RTOs and the RTOs (Enforcement) to the Deputy Transport Commissioners concerned.
The decision to abolish the border check-posts was taken following reports of rampant corruption at the check-posts.
The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) had seized around ₹3.26 lakh in unaccounted money from check-posts in Palakkad in raids from January 10 to 13. There are 20 MVD check-posts in the State where close to 100 officers are deputed.
Though all the check-posts went digital in 2022 with the MVD switching to an online module for issuing permits and collecting fees, the practice of physically verifying the details at the check-posts had been continuing.
The redeployed officers will be used for clearing the pending citizen services, including driving tests.
Published – February 04, 2025 08:18 pm IST