Odisha: Seat belt to become compulsory for back seat occupants soon

Bhubaneswar: Wearing of seat belt will become mandatory for occupants of back seats in four wheelers in Odisha soon while the violators will be fined.

The Transport Department of the Odisha Government has written a letter in this regard to the Transport Commissioner directing the official to issue necessary instructions.

“Rule 125(1) (a) of CMVR indicates that M1 category motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver seat, shall be equipped with a seat belt for a person occupying the front facing rear seat,” the department mentioned in the letter.

“Therefore, all passengers of M1 category vehicles having front facing seats should wear seat belts. The seat covers on passenger seats should not obstruct the locking and unlocking of the seat belt,” it said in the letter.

“Non-compliance of the above provisions may also be strictly enforced,” the department added.