Industry Odisha Bureau, April 6: In a major move to check air pollution and boost state revenue, the Odisha government has imposed restrictions on the transfer of ownership of commercial public transport vehicles like buses and taxis that are more than 10 years old and registered in any other state.
The State Transport Authority (STA) took this decision keeping the safety, comfort and convenience of the travelling public in view and issued an order in this regard.
“The stage/contract carriers registered in other states which are more than 10 years old from the month and year of manufacturing shall not be granted any permit in the state of Odisha,” the STA said in its order.
The State Government has asked all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to stop making any change of the address, transfer of ownership and accepting tax from such vehicles, it said.
With the order’s implementation, no commercial vehicle, including buses, taxis, cabs, older than 10 years and registered outside Odisha, will not be allowed to register in the State, officials said.
However, such vehicles can pass through Odisha and use state roads. The order will not apply to such old vehicles already registered in Odisha earlier, they said.
The official made it clear that the above order will not be applicable for private vehicles and other commercial vehicles like trucks
Some states like Uttar Pradesh have already implemented such a decision, which will help in supporting the state’s economy and enhance safety in public transportation.
The move aims to improve road safety standards, reduce the number of unfit vehicles on the road, and reduce air pollution from old vehicles, the officials said.
On an average, 18 persons have lost their lives in road accidents in Odisha throughout the year 2025. In 2024, the average daily death toll due to road accidents in the state was 17.
A total of 12,625 people were killed and 21,576 persons were injured in 25,157 road accidents reported across the state during 2024 and 2025. Out of the total figures, 6,142 people lost their lives and 10,770 others injured in 12,375 road accidents that occurred in the year 2024, official data said
However, these figures increased in the next year. As many 6,483 individuals were killed and 10,806 injured in 12,782 accidents reported in different roads of Odisha in 2025.
