Odisha Makes Aadhaar Mandatory for Vehicle Registration and Ownership Transfer

Bhubaneswar, July 10: The Odisha Transport Department has made Aadhaar authentication compulsory for all new vehicle registrations and ownership transfers, introducing stricter verification norms to strengthen transparency and improve the traceability of vehicle owners.

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The new requirement forms part of a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the department, which mandates applicants to furnish Aadhaar along with valid proof of address and other prescribed documents before their applications can be processed.

According to the department, transport authorities have been instructed to carry out thorough verification of every application to ensure that vehicle registrations are not obtained using false identities or incorrect addresses.

Officials said the move is aimed at creating a more reliable ownership database, enabling law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle owners quickly in cases involving road accidents, criminal investigations or other legal violations.

Stricter Document Verification

Under the revised SOP, Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been directed to scrutinise all supporting documents before approving vehicle registration or ownership transfer applications. Responsibility has also been fixed on officials handling the verification process to ensure compliance with the new guidelines.

The department believes the enhanced verification mechanism will reduce fraudulent registrations and improve accountability across the vehicle registration system.

Warning Against Non-Compliance

The Transport Department has warned that vehicles found operating without mandatory documents may face seizure, and owners could be prosecuted under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Fresh instructions have also been issued to enforcement teams across the state to implement the revised SOP uniformly and ensure strict adherence to the new verification process.

The latest directive comes as the department continues its drive against violations related to vehicle fitness, insurance, permits and other statutory requirements. Officials said the Aadhaar-based verification system is expected to make the registration process more transparent while helping authorities trace vehicle ownership more efficiently whenever required.