400 RTO jobs filled in 15 yrs

For the first time in 15 years, the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) vacancies are being filled up, across the state.

The Transport Department has filled a total of 400 posts at different levels in the department, who will join soon which will help in strengthening the system.

The appointments will also help in carrying out various activities benefiting people at large and ensure faster functioning at RTOs.

On December 1, fines under the Motor Vehicles Act were revised and activated. The act also meant that RTOs will now go on an overdrive in taking action against those who breach the rules and are asked to cough up the steep revised fine amount.

Earlier, due to a shortfall in manpower, the Transport Department has been facing issues inefficiently going for crackdowns and ensuring that investigations into breach of Motor Vehicles Act were tactfully handled on time.

For instance, issues like over-speeding of vehicles, dangerous driving, verifying permits etc. was to be dealt with by the assistant inspector, sub-assistant inspector and assistant subinspector levels at RTOs.

However, due to vacancies in these posts, either the Transport Department was facing delays in taking necessary steps or was unable to tackle these problems under M.V. Act.

In Mumbai, there are over 42 lakh vehicles registered in four different RTO offices of Tardeo, Andheri, Wadala, and Borivali that have only one flying squad each.

Every flying squad has around 3-4 RTO inspectors in it; thus leading to a huge discrepancy in the numbers for addressing the breach in traffic and RTO rules. Plus, the fatal, serious and minor accidents have remained consistent which needed more force to control them.

According to Maharashtra Transport Commissioner, the posting of these vacancies has already begun and this shall help in bringing things under control. Their major activities are issuing learners and permanent driving licenses.

However, giving online tests and physical testing of candidates has been getting delayed due to a lack of staff to monitor and conduct tests. With the filling up of posts, these delays and waiting times for people will also drop. Plus people will get appointments faster rather than waiting for 2-3 months.

The appointments will help in carrying out various activities benefiting people at large and ensure faster functioning at RTOs