5 days ago
CAG Flags Over Rs 1,200 Crore Bengal Transport Losses
India’s government auditor examined West Bengal’s Transport Department from 2019 to March 2024.
The audit said the department did not collect more than Rs 1,200 crore that it was supposed to receive.
Most of the missing money came from unpaid road taxes and penalties.
The report said many vehicle owners were listed as defaulters, but officials did not follow up.
It also found unpaid fitness fees, permit fees and other charges.
Problems with the e-Vahan computer system made some records harder to use correctly.
The department said it had too few workers to enforce the rules properly.
Transport Minister Arjun Singh also said money had leaked during the previous administration and promised stronger action.
A CAG audit for 2019-2024 flagged more than Rs 1,200 crore in revenue losses in West Bengal’s Transport Department.
Road-tax and penalty arrears accounted for Rs 1,074.23 crore involving 4.11 lakh vehicle owners.
The audit identified Rs 187.04 crore in unrealised fitness fees, additional fees and fines.
Permit-fee irregularities and data problems in the e-Vahan portal contributed to further reported losses.
The department cited manpower shortages, while Transport Minister Arjun Singh alleged leakage of funds under the previous administration.
- Who
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, West Bengal’s Transport Department, vehicle owners and Transport Minister Arjun Singh.
- What
- A CAG audit flagged more than Rs 1,200 crore in revenue losses and collection irregularities.
- Where
- West Bengal’s Transport Department, across 52 registering authorities.
- When
- The audit covered 2019 through 31 March 2024.
- Why
- The report attributed the losses to uncollected taxes, penalties, fees and fines, weak monitoring, data problems and enforcement limitations.
CAG Audit Findings
Department and Minister’s Position
Cause of revenue losses
CAG Audit Findings
The CAG report said authorities failed to monitor defaulters and expired fitness certificates despite data being available in the e-Vahan system.
Department and Minister’s Position
The Transport Department cited a shortage of manpower as a reason for inadequate enforcement. Arjun Singh additionally alleged fund leakage and vehicle-parts sales under the previous administration.
Administrative responsibility
CAG Audit Findings
The audit identified failures in monitoring tax, penalty and fee collections across the department’s registering authorities.
Department and Minister’s Position
Arjun Singh described a roughly Rs 4,000 crore carry-forward deficit inherited from the previous administration and announced measures to curb illegal transit and revenue pilferage.
Key facts
- Audited period
- 2019 to 31 March 2024
- Total reported revenue loss
- More than Rs 1,200 crore
- Road taxes and penalties
- Rs 1,074.23 crore involving 4.11 lakh vehicle owners
- Fitness fees and related charges
- Rs 187.04 crore
- Permit and late fees
- Rs 28.77 crore
- Registering authorities
- 52
- Department’s cited constraint
- Shortage of manpower for enforcement activities
Quotes
Comptroller and Auditor General report
India’s national public audit report examining Bengal’s Transport Department finances
“The tax authorities did not monitor the assessment of collection of taxes from the defaulting owners despite the availability of defaulters’ list in e-Vahan”
thestatesman.com
Sources
Related news
CAG report tabled in Delhi Assembly flags lapses, wasteful expenses
CAG Report Details Rs 3,500 Crore Irregularities Under Kejriwal Government
CAG Flags Driving Licence Lapses and Road Safety Risks
TGSRTC's Rs 5k-crore accumulated losses still haunt despite surpluses
CAG audit flags planning, cost lapses in Bengaluru Metro
Audit Flags Revenue Collection Gaps In Chittoor Civic Body
West Bengal orders police to enforce e-rickshaw highway restriction
Kolkata to launch water taxis for better connectivity
West Bengal CM Orders Body Cameras for Transport Officials
