Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) today delegated power to Regional Transport Officers (RTO) to issue special permit for inter-state bus operation. At present, the special permits to public service vehicles (stage / contract carriages) are issued by STA. As per statute, STA or RTA can grant special permit.
It was noticed that bus owners and their representatives were rushing to STA daily to get special permits for inter-state operation. In view of prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, it had become necessary to check crowding, the STA stated.
Steps have been initiated to make the process of application and issue of special permit online in VAHAN application. Using this, bus owners can apply and take copies of the special permit online. The new online system will be rolled out shortly.
“Considering volume of rush of stakeholders in STA for special permits and the situation arising out of COVID-19, it is ordered that henceforth, application for special permit for inter-state operation will be filed at the RTO counters,” the STA stated.
The RTOs will issue the special permit in the same day as far as possible. This delegation will continue till the online issue of such permit is developed in VAHAN application, STA added. Instruction has been issued earlier to issue special permit up to 150 days during the year 2020 till December 31.
