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LUCKNOW: Enforcement action against overloaded vehicles has stalled due to the withholding of crucial transit records by toll plazas, leading to revenue losses running into crores of rupees. Toll plaza operators have stopped sharing details of overloaded vehicles with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), leaving transport officials unable to penalize violators. Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) is continuing its investigation into the matter.
Previously, authorities at the Itaunja and Nawabganj toll plazas compiled records of overloaded vehicles passing through their gates and shared them with the RTO. Using this data, the transport department imposed heavy fines on the errant vehicles, which helped curb overloading on highways. However, around six to seven months ago, when RTO officials scrutinized vehicle details to initiate action, several vehicles could not be traced. The subsequent inquiry uncovered a racket involving fake FASTags and forged registration numbers. Following a case registered by the RTO, the STF stepped in and has already arrested and jailed five accused individuals.
Data Sharing Halted After STF Raid
Last month, when the Itaunja toll plaza failed to provide the required vehicle data, the STF obtained court permission and raided the facility. During the operation, the investigation agency seized servers, CCTV digital video recorders (DVRs), and other electronic equipment containing transit records. Since that raid, the toll plaza has completely stopped sharing data on overloaded vehicles with the RTO. Officials noted that this arbitrary withholding of information has gone unchecked, directly impacting enforcement drives and causing continuous losses to the state exchequer.
Seized Equipment Sent for Forensic Analysis
Following the raid, a court had directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to furnish a bond to secure the release of the seized servers and DVRs. Had the formalities been completed, the equipment would have been handed over to the highway authority. Because the NHAI did not fulfill the court’s conditions, the STF sent the seized servers and DVRs for forensic examination on court orders. Technical experts are currently working to recover data from these devices. The recovered information will help investigators identify approximately 140 overloaded vehicles that bypassed enforcement using forged details.
NHAI Penalizes Bank Over FASTag Verification Lapse
The investigation into the fake FASTag fraud also revealed procedural lapses on the part of the issuing bank. Investigators found that the bank was required to verify FASTags issued on the basis of vehicle chassis numbers within a stipulated timeframe, a mandatory check it failed to perform. Fraudsters exploited this verification gap to obtain and use fake FASTags on commercial vehicles. Taking cognizance of this negligence, the NHAI imposed a financial penalty and recovered the fine amount from the concerned bank.
