15,849 Vehicles With Same Chassis, Engine Numbers Registered Across Northeast States: CAG Flags Major Irregularities

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered serious irregularities in vehicle registrations across several Northeastern states, revealing that 15,849 vehicles were registered with identical chassis and engine numbers in multiple states.

The findings were highlighted in the latest audit report, raising concerns over systemic lapses in transport department databases and possible misuse of registration systems.

Duplicate Registrations Across States

According to the audit, thousands of vehicles shared the same chassis and engine numbers but were registered in different Northeastern states. Such duplication is highly irregular, as each vehicle is assigned a unique chassis and engine number by the manufacturer.

The CAG report stated that the anomaly points to weaknesses in verification mechanisms and lack of inter-state coordination in the vehicle registration process.

Officials indicated that such discrepancies could potentially enable illegal activities, including tax evasion, resale of stolen vehicles, and fraudulent insurance claims.

Irregularities in Assam School Bus Permits

The audit also flagged irregularities in the issuance of contract carriage permits for school buses in Assam.

According to the report, permits were issued in a manner that bypassed mandatory fitness tests, which are legally required to ensure roadworthiness and passenger safety. The lapse effectively allowed certain school buses to operate without undergoing proper mechanical inspection.

The CAG noted that failure to enforce mandatory fitness checks could endanger student safety and compromise regulatory standards.

Concerns Over Monitoring Systems

The audit report criticised deficiencies in digital monitoring systems, data validation protocols, and cross-verification mechanisms. It observed that the absence of robust controls enabled duplicate entries and procedural violations to go undetected for extended periods.

The findings suggest the need for:

• Stronger integration of vehicle registration databases across states

• Real-time validation of chassis and engine numbers

• Strict enforcement of fitness certification norms

• Regular audits of transport department records

Government Response Awaited

Officials from the concerned transport departments are expected to review the CAG’s findings and submit compliance reports. The audit has called for corrective measures to prevent recurrence of such irregularities.

The revelations have sparked debate over road safety and regulatory oversight in the Northeast, with experts stressing the importance of transparency and digital accountability in public administration.

Further action is likely once state governments examine the audit observations and initiate corrective steps.