Transport Rules: Big news for truck drivers and owners. The Mines and Geology Department of the Bihar Government has decided to implement a new system for vehicles entering the state carrying minor minerals from other states. According to the department, from June 10, it will be mandatory for all vehicles coming to Bihar carrying Sand, stones and other minor minerals from other states to obtain Inter State Transit Pass (ISTP). The objective of this new system is to make mineral transportation transparent, stop illegal transportation and ensure increase in the state’s revenue.
According to the instructions issued by the department, if the quantity of mineral is mentioned in the transport challan as weight, then the fee for transit pass has been fixed at Rs 60 per metric ton and if the quantity is mentioned as volume, then the fee has been fixed at Rs 85 per cubic meter. Officials believe this system will effectively control the practice of repeatedly using the same invoice for mineral transportation. It will also provide accurate data on minerals imported into Bihar.
Registration will have to be done on the portal
Mineral Development Officer Sarvesh Kumar Sambhav has clarified that all the concerned vehicle owners will have to register themselves on the ISTP portal. Vehicle owners will be able to log in to the portal using the login ID and password they receive after registration. They will be required to obtain an online transit pass, based on the quantity of minerals loaded on the vehicle, within six hours of the issuance of the transport challan at the mineral source from other states. Payment for the transit pass will also be made entirely online.
The department has also indicated that the validity of the ISTP will align with that of the original mineral transportation challan. While transporting, the driver is required to have both a transit pass and a valid mineral transportation challan issued by the appropriate state.
How to Register?
- To register vehicles, first go to the ISTP portal.
- Login using the login ID and password created upon registration.
- Online payment for transit pass will be made through the portal only.
- The ISTP challan will remain valid for the same period as the mineral transportation challan.
- During mineral transportation, it is mandatory to have transit pass as well as valid mineral transportation challan issued from other states.
- Vehicles seized for illegal mineral transportation can be released only after payment of fine.
