Madikeri RTO building to be ready by March

The new building of the RTO office on Abbeyfalls road is likely to be completed by March. The PWD has decided to hand over the building to the Transport Department once the building work completes.

The CM had announced Rs crore for the memorial during his visit to the district on November 15. In fact, he has already directed the Finance Department to release the amount.

The department of Kannada and Culture has decided to prepare an action plan for the General Thimmaiah Memorial and submit it to the government within two days. However, the government is yet to take a decision on the shifting of the RTO office from the present General K S Thimmaiah’s residence.

Transport Minister R Ashok during his earlier visit to the district had stated that if the new building cause inconvenience to the public, then the department is ready for renting a building in the city limits.

“The decision on shifting of RTO office to new premises must be taken at the government-level. If the government orders for the shifting of RTO office to new building, then we are ready to shift,” said RTO Mohammed Habeebulla Khan.

It was in 2006-07, the then Finance Minister B S Yeddyurappa had announced Rs one crore to the construction of General Thimmaiah memorial. However, the money had not been released so far.

In the meantime, General Thimmaiah Memorial Construction Committee Convener B A Nanjappa had tendered resignation to the post.

With this, there would be no one to work sincerely towards the memorial.  An action plan for the memorial will be sent to the head office of the department, said Kannada and Culture department in-charge Assistant Director Vinodchandra.

The RTO had written a letter to the department of Kannada and Culture in 2005. The letter states “the Transport department had purchased General Thimmaiah’s residence and surrounding areas for Rs 2,03,320 in 1971. There are staff quarters adjacent to the office. Hence, we don’t have any say in the shifting of the office. Kannada and Culture department should directly approach Transport Commissioner for shifting of the office.”