Odisha Traffic Crackdown: Rs 9.6 Crore Collected in Fines from 17,800 Violators on Day 1
Bhubaneswar, March 22, 2026 — In an unprecedented crackdown on traffic rule violations, the Odisha State Transport Authority (STA) collected a staggering Rs 9.57 crore in fines on the very first day of its new 10-day special enforcement drive.
Launched on Saturday on the directives of Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, the aggressive statewide campaign comes in direct response to an alarming surge in road accidents and fatalities across the state.
Day 1: By the Numbers
Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur confirmed the massive scale of the initial rollout. By Saturday evening, enforcement teams had issued a total of 17,831 e-challans to errant motorists, amounting to exactly Rs 9,57,59,504 in penalties.
Additionally, authorities detained at least 64 vehicles for grave violations of road safety rules.
Why the Sudden Crackdown?
The aggressive push for road safety follows sobering data from the state police. According to recent reports, 6,483 people lost their lives in road accidents across Odisha in 2025—a 5.6% increase from the 6,142 fatalities recorded in 2024. The overall number of accidents also saw a 3.3% rise year-on-year.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. This campaign is a significant step towards saving precious lives,” transport officials stated.
What Violations Are Being Targeted?
The special drive, which will run in both morning and evening shifts until March 31, is operating with a zero-tolerance policy. Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) have formed dedicated special teams to zero in on the major causes of accidents, including:
Speeding and reckless driving
Drink driving
Riding two-wheelers without helmets
Driving on the wrong side of the road
Mobile phone use while driving
Illegal parking and overloading
Heavy vehicles, specifically tippers, dumpers, and trucks engaged in the mining and construction sectors, are under heightened scrutiny to ensure strict compliance with load regulations and valid licensing.
Alongside the strict enforcement, the STA has also initiated widespread awareness programs. In Bhubaneswar, counseling sessions were organized for long-distance bus drivers, while community outreach events focusing on road safety and vehicular pollution were held in districts like Jajpur and Dhenkanal.
