Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has instructed relevant officials to address the issue of vehicles with unauthorized structural modifications, particularly those known as ‘DJ vehicles’ which are outfitted with amplifiers, mixers, and speakers that produce excessively loud sounds. In a circular, the State Transport Authority (STA) noted an increase in the number of vehicles that have been extensively modified and are being operated publicly in breach of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, posing a significant and escalating threat to road safety. The STA has directed road safety enforcement officers to take legal action against vehicles with such unauthorized modifications.
Additionally, it has mandated that officials target vehicles utilizing non-approved or non-standard lighting and signaling equipment, including high-intensity aftermarket multi-colored lights and high-noise music systems. “The use of DJ systems, amplifiers, mixers, laser light controllers, and similar setups that alter the passenger cabin, cargo bed, or trailer into entertainment zones shall be strictly prohibited,” stated the circular. Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) are required to ensure the availability of field enforcement units, especially during nighttime, festival periods, and events, to discourage these violations. Officials will also launch awareness campaigns to educate vehicle owners and operators about legal compliance, safety risks, and penalties associated with such modifications.
The STA has urged citizens and event organizers to confirm that these vehicles are properly registered, structurally unmodified, and meet all safety and fitness standards. This initiative follows incidents involving illegally modified DJ vehicles. In May, a DJ van in Cuttack, which was overloaded and structurally altered, caught fire due to a short-circuit in its AC-powered lighting system, resulting in serious burns to two individuals, according to officials. Likewise, at least 15 people were injured when a DJ bus overturned in Bargarh district due to the driver’s disorientation caused by internal lighting and poor visibility on the road in March of the previous year.
In November 2023, a collision occurred near Ganjam when a DJ vehicle with blinding blue strobes crashed into a two-wheeler on NH-16, leading to two fatalities. Such vehicles not only jeopardize the lives of their occupants but also pose a considerable risk to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, an official stated.