Tripura Transport Department Notifies SOP for Towing Abandoned and Unattended Vehicles Across the State

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 2, 2026

The Transport Department, Government of Tripura, has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the towing of abandoned, unattended, illegally parked, unclaimed, wrecked, burnt, or partially dismantled vehicles from public places across the state. The notification has been published in the Extraordinary Issue of the Tripura Gazette and will come into force immediately.

The SOP has been framed under Section 127 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, with the objective of ensuring smooth traffic movement, removing road hazards, and improving public safety.

The notification was issued by the Transport Department, Government of Tripura, Secretariat, Agartala, vide Notification No. F.1(84)-TC/G/TOWING/2025 dated May 29, 2026. The order was issued by Subrata Choudhury, Additional Secretary to the Government of Tripura, by order of the Governor.

The SOP derives its authority from Section 127 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which empowers police authorities to remove vehicles abandoned or left unattended in public places for ten hours or more.

Tow vehicles parked in prohibited areas.

The Transport Department will undertake towing operations through authorized agencies or private operators selected through a tender process. These agencies will work in coordination with Traffic Police, District Administration, Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Urban Local Bodies.

The towing service will operate throughout the state under the provisions of Section 127 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The notification specifies that vehicle owners will be liable to pay all towing charges.

Applicable penalties under law will also have to be paid.

The Transport Department, in consultation with the Traffic Police and other authorities, will prepare a vehicle-category-wise towing charge chart separately.

At present, the notification does not specify any fixed towing fee or penalty amount. The detailed rate chart will be issued subsequently by the Transport Department.

To ensure transparency and accountability, payments must be made only through cashless or online systems approved by the Transport Department.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Vehicles that remain unclaimed for six months after being towed may be dealt with by the Transport Department under applicable legal provisions. The department has been empowered to take appropriate action as permitted by law.

Officials believe the new SOP will help to reduce road congestion and improve traffic discipline.

The notification came into effect from the date of its issuance and is applicable throughout Tripura.

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