Team Herald
PANJIM: The Enforcement Wing of the Directorate of Transport fined the driver of Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar for overtaking while driving the minister’s official vehicle on Mandovi Bridge on Friday morning. The violation was caught on a camera, and went viral on the social media prompting the minister to call up Transport Director Nikhil Desai to impose the penalty.
Driver Dilesh Dabholkar thereafter paid a fine of Rs 600 for ‘driving recklessly or dangerously’, which was confirmed by Palyekar on Facebook and Twitter. “Have asked Director Transport Nikhil Desai to direct EW to issue challan against my official vehicle (GA-06-G-8888) for overtaking on bridge,” read his first post on Twitter.
His other post with a copy of the challan and the receipt stated, “Fine of (Rs) 600 has been paid by my driver for violating the traffic rules.”
On his Facebook page, the minister stated that the violation occurred while he was on an official visit out of the State. “My official vehicle driven by my driver while taking it from Verna showroom to my residence after servicing was found overtaking on Mandovi Bridge. As servants of public of our beautiful Goa, it should be our priority to lead by example. On knowing of this incident I have personally spoken to concerned officials in Directorate of Transport and instructed them to act according to law as such incidents in future should not happen. Fine of (Rs) 600 has been paid.”
