e-driving track in M'lore soon

Plans are on anvil to set up a driving training institute too, says RTO

Regional Transport Officer C Mallikarjuna said that the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of Mangalore sub-division will have electronic driving track, once the authorities get land for the purpose.

Addressing media persons at a ‘Meet the Press’ organised by the DK Working Journalists Association and Mangalore Press Club here on Wednesday, he said: “We are searching for a suitable land. The KIADB has shown us 10 acre land near Mudipu. If we get the land, the work will commence immediately. The government has earmarked Rs four crore for the purpose.” The RTO is also planning to set up driving training institute in the land where electronic driving track will be laid. At the same time, measures will be taken to issue fitness certificate for the vehicles in the new venue, so that those vehicles need not enter city adding chaos to the existing traffic. 

‘Elite vehicles’

The RTO has taken up the drive of collecting taxes from the elite vehicle owners who register their vehicles in other states but ply in Mangalore for long time, thus saving huge tax amount payable to the government exchequer.

The RTO has collected a sum of Rs 1,00,55,339 as tax from such vehicles registered in Pondicherry, in the year 2011. “We had checked 27 Pondicherry registered vehicles and had issued check report to the owners, of which, 11 have paid the tax to the government. The remaining had sought time to pay.”

As many as 45 vehicles with other state registration were seized in 2011 and a sum of Rs 30 lakh has been collected as the tax from such vehicles.

Smart cards

Owing to shortage of staff, the issue of driving license in the form of smart card is getting delayed. “The Mangalore RTO is likely to get four to five case workers shortly. By August, the process of converting old driving licenses into smart cards will be started.”

RTO office renovation

Stating that the Regional Transport Office was old, he said the basement of the building will be converted into four-wheeler parking lot. The ground floor will deal with the driving license, first floor will have non transport section and second floor will have transport section. The work on the first floor will be completed shortly. If the government approves the proposal, then the work on the second floor will be completed by next March.

Tinted glass

As per the direction of the Supreme Court, the motor vehicles should not have sunscreen sheet attached to the window glasses. The RTO has requested public to remove black films or tinted materials on the wind screens, both front and rear and also side glasses of their vehicles. The RTO in association with the police had initiated  a campaign to educate the public on the new rules. “Now, we will act against the violators.”

KSRTC city buses

To another query on introduction of KSRTC city buses, he said that no bus permits will be issued for the buses to enter the city following DM notification of 1991 and 1993. “We will try to see that something positive comes up soon. We have also urged the government to develop satellite bus shelters at Mangaladevi, Kankanady, Mallikatte and Ladyhill.”
Rs 112 cr revenue

The RTO of Mangalore sub division has collected a revenue of Rs 112 crore during 2011-12. The target was to collect Rs 101 crore.

Pre-paid auto stands soon

To a query on pre-paid auto stand in Railway station and at KSRTC, the RTO said that a fulfledged pre-paid auto stand will come up in railway station at Kankanady, Central railway station and at KSRTC bus stand. “The one who had taken up the franchise to run pre-paid auto stand at KSRTC bus stand was complaining that it was not feasible as the autos get passengers only in the morning. However, we are working on it and all the problems will be solved soon.”

Speed governors must

The RTO said that speed governors will have to fixed compulsorily in all the commercial vehicles including taxi, maxicab, lorries, auto, Volvo buses from June 1. All the owners of the commercial vehicles which costs above Rs 10 lakh will have to pay 15 per cent lifetime tax and 11 per cent cess.