RTOs to have buildings, brand identity

RTOs to have buildings, brand identity

The Hindu

# New initiative includes implementation of IT
# Only 19 RTOs have own buildings

BANGALORE: Despite being among the highest revenue earning departments of the Government, regional transport offices (RTOs) have been neglected all these years. But no longer, as under a new initiative, many RTOs will be relocated in spacious buildings with brand identity offering easy access to the public.

The initiative includes construction of buildings, setting up new driving test tracks and implementation of information technology for better administration.

The Government has released Rs. 5.14 crore for constructing new buildings in this financial year.

Of the 54 offices of regional transport officers and independent assistant regional transport officers in the State, only 19 have own buildings.

The department pays around Rs. 1.5 crore per year towards buildings rented by it.

The rented buildings were cramped causing difficulties for the people and officials.

Brand identity

Transport Commissioner M.C. Narayana Gowda told The Hindu that the new RTO buildings would be standardised to reflect the department's brand identity. The RTO buildings all over the State will look the same making it easy for people to identify them, he said.

Work on two offices — in Chikmagalur and Jamkhandi — have started while 10 more in Bangalore (West), Haveri, Davangere, Puttur, Bagalkot, Shimoga, Gadag, Honnavar, Bidar and Bylhongal would be taken up before the end of this financial year, Mr. Narayana Gowda said.

He said all these years because of working in difficult conditions, the efficiency level of the staff was low and it also did not bestow them with dignity.

Once the new buildings with modern amenities are up and running, the situation will change for the better, he said.

Land

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has allotted sites for construction of three new buildings for RTOs in the city at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore.

A 3,973-square metre plot has been allotted at BTM IV Stage for RTO (Central), 1,348-square metre plot near Konankunte for RTO (South) and a 6,975-square metre plot at Mallattahalli for office and driving track for the Jnana Bharathi RTO.

The department has purchased an eight-acre plot worth Rs. 40 lakh at Nachanahalli in Mysore from the Mysore Urban Development Authority.

Apart from constructing a new office building for a second RTO in Mysore, the land would be utilised to lay driving tracks and a yard for seized vehicles.

Driving tracks

Considering the lack of road space around the existing RTOs to ascertain the driving skills of people seeking driving licence, the department had mooted the concept of driving test tracks.

One such track is functioning near Peenya in the city for RTO (West).

Similar tracks at costs ranging from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh would be laid in Bagalkot, Gadag, Bidar while the existing tracks at Chitradurga, Kolar, Bijapur, Hassan and Belgaum would be upgraded.