Patna: The transport department in Bihar has issued show-cause notices to 40 officials after revenue collections in many districts remained far below the target set for the 2025–26 financial year. The decision was taken after a review meeting found that several districts had achieved only between 8% and 14% of their assigned revenue goals. The officials have been asked to submit their explanations within three days. The department has warned that strict action will follow if their responses are not satisfactory.
The action follows a departmental review chaired by transport minister Shravan Kumar, who had earlier expressed disappointment over the slow pace of revenue collection. Two months ago, the minister had directed officers to improve their performance and meet targets within a set deadline. However, when the department reassessed the situation, it found little improvement in several districts. The minister has now made it clear that future postings and deputations of officers will depend on their performance, signalling that accountability will play a key role in administrative decisions.
According to official data, the shortfall is significant. In Bhagalpur, the target was Rs 200 lakh, but only 8% of that amount was collected. Chhapra had a target of Rs 400 lakh and managed just 8.2%. Madhubani achieved 8.6% of its Rs 200 lakh goal, while Muzaffarpur collected 9.2% against a Rs 300 lakh target. Even Patna reported only 10% recovery against its assigned target. Sitamarhi, Kishanganj and Arwal recorded recoveries between 10% and 14.6%. Other districts such as Rohtas and Samastipur also reported poor performance.
The notices have been sent to District Transport Officers (DTOs), Additional District Transport Officers (ADTOs), Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) and Enforcement Sub-Inspectors (ESIs) across multiple districts. The department said that although special efforts were made in recent months to clear pending cases related to driving licences and vehicle registrations, revenue collection did not improve as expected. Officials said the performance of these officers will be reviewed again within the next 15 days to ensure progress.
The move is being seen as a strong message from the state government that failure to meet financial targets will not be ignored. By linking performance with career prospects, the department aims to improve efficiency and boost revenue collection across Bihar in the coming months.
