The State Transport Authority has placed every Regional Transport Office in Odisha on high alert, banning all vehicle movement on stretches where flowing water or rain-related conditions make travel unsafe. The directive, issued under Commerce & Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, responds to the Meteorological Department’s forecast of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the state on September 23 and 24. Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur convened an immediate video conference with all RTOs to enforce these emergency protocols.
The orders are blunt: if a road, bridge, or culvert is compromised by flooding or landslides, traffic stops. No exceptions. RTOs must coordinate with Police and road-owning agencies to halt or divert vehicles without delay. Resumption of traffic will only occur after the Police and road authorities physically confirm the route is safe.
Night-time travel faces the heaviest scrutiny. Authorities have flagged low-lying areas, ghat roads, and submerged crossings as critical kill zones. RTOs are instructed to keep recovery vehicles on standby and coordinate with highway agencies for enhanced patrolling. Drivers are strictly forbidden from attempting to cross flowing water, a rule that will be enforced with zero tolerance.
This isn't just about buses. The advisory covers goods transporters, taxi associations, and school transport operators alike. RTOs will broadcast route-specific restrictions through transport associations and media. If a route is unsafe, the service will be suspended. No moving forward until the water recedes and the road is cleared.