By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 28, 2019: Keeping in mind the huge rush at the Road Transport Offices (RTO) and sense of anxiety among the public over December 1 deadline, the Odisha government on Thursday for second time relaxed strict implementation of the amended motor vehicle (MV) Act for another three months till February-end.

Announcing this, the commerce and transport minister Padmanabha Behera told the Assembly, “The extension is being given for the last time and no further extension will be granted.”

Earlier on Thursday, members of the ruling BJD and the opposition Congress demanded extension of the December 1 deadline for reintroduction of provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019. The issue was raised in the Assembly during Zero Hour when senior BJD member Debiprasad Mishra said the people are facing difficulties in preparing required documents due to shortage of staff in different regional transport offices (RTOs).

Amid growing public discontent over stringent enforcement of the new traffic law, the chief minister earlier had on September 9 announced relaxation for three months. This is second time; Pantaik approved the relaxation to contain heavy rushes before the RTOs.

The transport minister made it clear that this will be the final relaxation. “There will be strict enforcement against dangerous life-threatening actions (both the driver and the road using public) like drunken driving, over speeding, driving against flow of traffic, using mobile while driving, dangerous driving, triple riding on two-wheeler, over loading, jumping red light, not wearing helmet and seat belt,” Behera cautioned.

Behara also cautioned, “There will be strict enforcement against dangerous life-threatening actions (both the driver and the road using public) like drunken driving, over speeding, driving against flow of traffic, using mobile while driving, dangerous driving, triple riding on two-wheeler, over loading, jumping red light, not wearing helmet and seat belt.”

Amid growing public discontent over stringent enforcement of the new traffic law, the chief minister earlier had on September 9 announced relaxation for three months. This is second time; he approved the relaxation to contain heavy rushes before the RTOs.

Official sources said, around 9.5 lakh applications were received for learners’ license (LL) in the past three months after the new traffic law came into force on September 1, out of which 5.45 lakh have been issued. This was against 3.48 lakh LLs issued throughout the year in 2018.

Also, around one lakh driving licenses have also been issued during the past three months as the transport department has revamped the facilitation centres by opening extra counters, working beyond the regular work hours and on holidays.