Bhopal: Old Check Posts Brought In ₹100 Crore, New System Earns Just ₹2.74 Crore

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In the past year, 14,610 vehicles were stopped and checked at 45 checkpoints across Madhya Pradesh, earning a penalty sum of ₹2.74 crore. But when these were operating as full check posts, they reportedly generated around ₹100 crore annually, said Congress MLA Pratap Grewal on Wednesday.

Grewal raised the issue during a state assembly session, questioning the revenue dip following closure of official transport check posts. He sought details regarding their closure from July 2024 to July 2025, the number of new checkpoints instituted and penalties collected. He also sought clarity on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for these new checkpoints.

In response, Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh stated that all 45 check posts were closed from July 2024 and replaced by 45 Road Safety and Information Checkpoints, established at same locations.

Grewal pointed out that no significant change was made to infrastructure or staffing. He said the same staff remained deployed, and operational tools like receipt boxes, cashbooks, diaries, weighing machines, godowns, vehicle detention areas and buildings continued to be used as before.

Despite this, Grewal claimed that when these were official check posts, more than ₹100 crore in penalties was collected by checking crores of vehicles. In contrast, under the new format, only ₹2.74 crore has been collected from just 15,000 vehicles in one year.

No probe into ex-cop’s assets: Min

MLA Pratap Grewal also asked about a departmental enquiry against Saurabh Sharma, a former transport constable accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his known income.

The transport minister said no enquiry is planned, as Sharma had resigned from service and is no longer part of the Transport Department.