Bihar's Transport Minister, Sharwan Kumar, issued a strong warning to officials of the state transport department on Friday, expressing serious concern over significant shortfalls in revenue collection and a massive backlog of applications for vehicle registration and driving licences. The minister stated that strict action would be taken against officials who fail to meet their targets within a set deadline.
High-Level Review Meeting in Patna
The minister delivered this directive during a crucial state-level review meeting held at Adhiveshan Bhawan in Patna. The meeting was attended by a wide array of officials, including district transport officers (DTOs), additional DTOs, motor vehicle inspectors (MVIs), enforcement sub-inspectors, and block-level secretaries of the Road and Transport Authority. Senior officials present included the department's Secretary, Raj Kumar, and Bihar State Road Transport Corporation administrator Atul Kumar Verma.
The primary focus of the review was to urgently address the identified lapses. Minister Kumar emphasized the importance of fulfilling the commitments made during the meeting. Expressing skepticism about immediate improvement, he said, "I doubt that you will be able to achieve the target within a week." He clarified that the department's secretary would be responsible for deciding on action against non-compliant officials and urged the staff to treat clearing the backlog as a critical challenge.
Alarming Revenue Shortfalls Across Districts
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Kumar presented stark figures revealing the extent of the revenue collection crisis. He pointed out that revenue collection at the RTA level in Muzaffarpur was a mere 18% of the target. Similarly dismal performances were reported from other key districts including Saran, Munger, Patna, and Bhagalpur.
The minister stated that such poor performance "raises a question mark on the merit" of the officers concerned, as it directly impacts the state's revenue generation. To tackle this, he instructed officials to expedite the registration process for goods vehicles and ensure timely fitness tests for all vehicles, including school buses and commercial vehicles. This measure is aimed at preventing accidents and improving overall road safety conditions.
Directives on Pending Cases and Infrastructure
In addition to revenue issues, Minister Kumar issued specific orders to address other critical areas. He directed the secretary to conduct a performance review of all MVIs and Additional DTOs who have achieved less than 20% of their revenue targets. He also stressed the urgent need to resolve the 2,793 pending hit-and-run cases and to accelerate the installation of high-security registration plates (HSRP) on vehicles across the state.
The minister's concerns were not limited to administrative lapses. During an inspection visit to bus depots at Phulwari and Bankipur near Gandhi Maidan on Thursday, he found the conditions to be deplorable. He cited a severe lack of basic facilities for both passengers and bus operators, indicating broader systemic issues within the state's transport infrastructure that require immediate attention.
The meeting concluded with a clear mandate for officials to improve efficiency, clear the enormous backlog of applications, and meet revenue targets to avoid disciplinary action.
