The Rajasthan transport department has issued a significant directive to all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state, mandating them to prioritize the issuance of traffic challans consistently throughout the entire year. This marks a strategic shift from the previous approach where enforcement was often intensified only during specific road safety campaigns or special drives.
Year-Round Enforcement Strategy
Senior officials within the department have emphasized that this move towards consistent enforcement is expected to yield dual benefits. Firstly, it is projected to substantially increase revenue generation for the transport department. Secondly, and perhaps more crucially, it aims to foster a culture of sustained compliance with traffic rules among motorists, thereby enhancing overall road safety across Rajasthan.
Strict Revenue Targets and Benchmarks
In a clear push to operationalize this directive, RTOs have been instructed to establish and adhere to strict monthly revenue targets. Specific benchmarks have been outlined to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes. A notable example includes a directive for officials to issue a minimum of 10 challans per day specifically targeting overloaded vehicles, a major contributor to road accidents and infrastructure damage.
The department has taken a proactive stance by formally communicating with RTOs that have fallen behind on their revenue targets for the current financial year, up to December. This underscores the administration's commitment to financial discipline and performance monitoring within the transport ecosystem.
Official Rationale and Expected Outcomes
A senior transport official elaborated on the rationale behind this policy shift, stating, "With proper and consistent enforcement, road safety will see a marked improvement, and people will naturally begin to follow traffic norms more diligently. Importantly, this rigorous enforcement throughout the year will automatically generate significant revenue for the department, creating a sustainable model for both safety and fiscal health."
Addressing Irregularities in Private Transport
The directive follows a high-level review meeting held on January 22, chaired by the Transport Commissioner. During this meeting, the commissioner highlighted widespread irregularities, particularly concerning private sleeper buses operating across the state. It was noted that visible enforcement action against such violations was largely confined to the capital city, Jaipur.
In response, the commissioner issued strict instructions to all District Transport Officers (DTOs) to take immediate and stringent action against errant operators. DTOs have been mandated to conduct thorough verifications of permits and fitness certificates for all vehicles under their jurisdiction to curb malpractices.
Performance-Linked Accountability
To ensure the effectiveness of this statewide drive, the department has introduced a performance-linked accountability mechanism. Officials indicated that the identities of traffic inspectors who generate the least revenue in their respective regions could face suspension. This measure is designed to incentivize proactive enforcement and deter complacency among field staff.
Initial assessments have identified several RTOs, including those in Bharatpur, Alwar, Jaipur (I), and Chittorgarh, as currently lagging in their revenue collection targets for the ongoing financial year. The new directives are expected to bring these offices up to speed and ensure uniform enforcement standards across the state.
