Aero India: Car owners blame indifference of officials

Despite the transport department’s claim of having extended full cooperation after 270 cars were gutted in a massive fire at Aero India 2019, aggrieved car owners are now citing indifference of multiple agencies. They say the agencies are slowing down the insurance process.

“We are unable to raise insurance claims due to the indifference of multiple agencies,” said Shibu V K, a car owner.

Shibu’s 2016 Maruti Baleno was lost in the fire. “Owners are scrambling to complete RTO formalities for RC cancellations to raise insurance claims, even skipping work,” Shibu added.

But they appreciated the Yelahanka police and RTO for ensuring police acknowledgement and Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) reports that were made available immediately.

Many were turned down at various RTOs though, citing different rules and regulations.

“In each RTO, different rules and requirements are being projected,” reiterated Shibu. “It’s tough as the procedure for RC cancellation is cumbersome,” he added.

Due to MVI reports with incorrect or missing chassis numbers, regional RTOs are not accepting requests for RC cancellations. There is no clarity on how to fix this, and RTOs are passing the blame.

“Some insurance agencies processed claims immediately and owners even got the first installments of the insurance amount (70-85%). But there are others who are not ready to initiate claims without completing RTO formalities for cancellation of RCs, which takes more than a month normally,” Shibu said.

“For no reason I am anguished. I blame the organisers’ mismanagement, failing to ensure safety,” said another owner.

The car owners wrote to [e-mail] and [e-mail], saying as the aforementioned were the organising parties, according to the Aero India’s website, they should convince the authorities to sanction sufficient compensation for all.

They have also planned a protest at Cubbon Park on Sunday, proposing to take a legal recourse to ensure adequate compensation.

Meanwhile, a top bureaucrat at the transport department, requesting anonymity, said: “The vehicles registered under the RTOs of Bengaluru have been attended to and settlements of claims have been expedited. However, there have been problems with the vehicles registered in different parts of Karnataka and elsewhere. Insurance officials have communicated to those RTOs and claims of such vehicles will be settled eventually.”