Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16: Check your vehicle documents before you step on the accelerator. Officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTO), Bhubaneswar, and commissionerate police have joined hands to crackdown on those not in possession of proper papers.

On Saturday, the first day of the drive, 21 autorickshaws were seized, while 41 cases were lodged against owners of four-wheelers and autorickshaws for flouting norms.

Later, 80 per cent of vehicles were let off after collecting penalty. Sources in the RTO, Bhubaneswar, said that more than Rs 50,000 was collected in penalty.

Sources in the RTO said the drive was aimed at penalising vehicles, including two-wheelers, with registration numbers other than Odisha.

“Though these vehicles must obtain a no-objection certificate before plying within Odisha, in most cases the vehicle owners do not take the required permission. These vehicles will be penalised under the Odisha Motor Vehicle Taxation Act,” said regional transport officer of Bhubaneswar region Lal Mohan Sethy.

During the drive, the transport officials checked registration certificates, fitness papers, permit and driving licence.

On the other hand, the traffic police continued its drive against tinted glasses on vehicles.

“We have been conducting frequent raids on vehicles having tinted glass. The drive will continue in the future,” said assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Bhubaneswar Binod Das.

Earlier, the RTO had launched a similar drive against buses carrying school and college students for flouting the norms. Similarly, last September the RTO had initiated a drive against heavy vehicles carrying goods and passengers more than the permissible limit.

Statistics available with the State Transport Authority show that last year 305 people lost their lives in the 889 accidents that took place in the jurisdiction of RTO, Bhubaneswar. In the same region, 488 persons suffered grievous injuries in 2011. The RTO officials also said that such drives would continue in the future to ensure road safety. Autorickshaw operators also welcomed the drive and said that these kind of initiatives would help to control road accidents.

“Everyone should ply vehicles with proper documents and a valid driving licence. At the same time, RTO officials must ensure that all vehicles flouting the norms were penalised,” said general secretary of Bhubaneswar Autorickshaw Mahasangha, Padman Kumar Samal.