Noida: The district transport department is set to crack down on more than 9,000 commercial vehicles in Noida and Greater Noida for failing to pay road tax and fines. The vehicles cumulatively owe more than Rs 85 crore.Officials said the vehicles will be seized if payments are not made by the deadline, which has not been finalised yet.Assistant (enforcement) Udit Narayan Pandey said that a list of major defaulters has also been prepared and shared with the district administration to expedite the recovery process. The enforcement drive is aimed at improving compliance and recovering long-pending dues from commercial vehicle operators. “The department has directed its enforcement teams to take strict action against habitual defaulters,” he said.The official also said the vehicle owners may soon get an opportunity to settle their dues under a proposed one-time settlement (OTS) scheme being planned by the state govt. The scheme is expected to be rolled out within the next two months and is likely to provide a 100% waiver on penalties along with a concession on the original road tax amount. “We are expecting the new OTS scheme to offer more relief than the previous one. Several vehicle owners have already approached the department to enquire about it,” he said.The transport department is also continuing its action against end-of-life vehicles. Officials said registrations of over two lakh petrol and diesel vehicles that have completed their prescribed operational life have already been suspended. Their registrations are being cancelled in phases after the mandatory six-month period.It has also appealed to residents to report any such vehicles found plying on public roads or parked in public places to the transport department or the police.According to official data, more than 12 lakh vehicles are registered in Noida and Greater Noida, making enforcement of tax compliance and vehicle regulations a key focus area for the department.
