Ranchi, Oct. 29: Intra-state transport permits issued recently by the State Transport Authority (STA) were found to be in gross violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The violation can be attributed to a nexus between brokers and managers of private bus operators, who have taken over the transport department. It is alleged that the department functioned according to their (brokers and operators’ managers) whims and fancies.

According to information available with The Telegraph, the STA has issued 20 intra-state permits in the last couple of days, which do not correspond to the norms laid down in the Act. Section 88 of the Act explains an intra-state transport permit as the route covering the point from where the vehicle starts in one state and travels a distance of 16 km in another before terminating its journey in the state of its origin. The Act is very clear about the matter and even a slight deviation is illegal.

Private bus operators, not residing in the capital, have found an easy way to have their work done. All that is required is the right “source” and some “dakshina” (bribe), sources said.

“For a permit, the junior ranking officials demand something between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 while the seniors get around Rs 2,000,” said a transporter on condition of anonymity. The issuance section, which has peons and other staff who are engaged in stamping and shifting papers make about Rs 500.

The rate for granting and issuing permit for a normal route, which does not have too many applicants, is Rs 6,000 while it is Rs 10,000 for a busy one. These are the standard rates and can change according to the person applying for the permit,” said a private operator.

Private operators are only allowed to travel 40 km on national highways. But when they apply for permits they show distorted maps. The distance between two places on a national highway is shortened and brought within 40 km to get the permit. The distance between Ranchi and Jamshedpur is 130 km. While applying for the permit, an operator will show his route from Ranchi to Bundu on the highway. From Bundu he will take a detour and reach Chandil and then hit the national highway again.

The distance from Ramgarh to Ranchi is 42 km on the national highway but shown as only 38 km on the map applied for a permit.

State transport commissioner Chintu Naik strongly refuted the charges of corruption in his department. “Everyone in the department is honest. There is no corruption. No one even knows about the meaning of corruption here,’’ he said.