Transport Department collected a whopping Rs.14.03 lakh as tax and compounding fees from owners of heavy vehicles found plying without proper documents and non-payment of tax during special drives conducted from February 1 at various places in the district.

The special drives for collection of tax and compounding fees were conducted at places such as Samayapuram toll plaza, Tiruverambur, Manapparai, Manikandam and Palpannai in the city on the instruction of the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Tiruchi, Veerapandian.

Officials of the department checked Omni buses and goods vehicles of other states besides construction equipment vehicles during the drives. Tax and compounding fees amounting to Rs.14.03 lakh were collected from a total number of 48 heavy vehicles, including 20 Omni buses of other States and equal number of construction equipment vehicles for non-payment of tax and plying without proper documents till date, a department official here said.

The officials conducted a similar drive at Srirangam in the stretch from Amma Mandapam to Rajagopuram on Tuesday during which four Omni buses with Andhra Pradesh registration were found plying without proper documents. Compounding fee of Rs.500 each was collected from the vehicles.

A sum of Rs.14,350 was collected as tax from a Karnataka registration maxi cab, which was found plying with seats beyond the permitted capacity.