Getting work done at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Mapusa is a sheer test of patience and endurance for the staff and public alike.
For an office that generates revenue in excess of Rs 25 crore each year, the Mapusa RTO is indeed a lucrative enterprise. But instead of rewarding the Mapusa RTO for its profitable activity, the office has been plagued by inadequate space and poor equipment.
The Mapusa RTO was shifted from a small office in the Mapusa Residency to the KTC bus stand in 1989 for the benefit of residents from the Bardez and Pernem talukas. Over the years, there has been a sharp rise in registration of vehicles at the Mapusa RTO.
“Since the past few years, an average of 15,000 vehicles have been registered with the Mapusa RTO every year and nearly 70 per cent of these vehicles registered are two-wheelers. They included 9,790 two-wheelers of a total of 13,767 vehicles (2011-12), 13,731 two-wheelers of a total of 18,826 vehicles (2012-13) and 10,954 two-wheelers of a total of 14,801 vehicles (from 2013 till Feb 2014),” Transport Director Arun Dessai told Herald.
“There has been a significant reduction in the registration of two-wheelers since January 2013, following the Transport department’s decision to stop issuing permits for rent-a-bikes from April 1, 2013,” Dessai added.
In a bid to reduce the workload on the Mapusa RTO, the transport department had set up an RTO office in Pernem. “Despite these efforts, the workload at the Mapusa RTO has not decreased as expected,” admits Dessai.
The present office, which is located at the KTC bus stand in Mapusa, is always crowded in the morning, as hundreds of people visit the office for various requirements.
According to a source at the Mapusa RTO, the existing office, which is nearly 25 years old, does not have enough space to store its records and these records are scattered all over the office area.
“Rooms allotted to the assistant directors and inspectors are inadequate. Moreover, there is no place for visitors to sit and they are forced to remaining standing for hours till their work is completed,” said the source.
The aging equipment in the office is also showing signs of inefficiency.
“Computers and printers, which were installed in the office in 2008, are not functioning properly, thereby affecting the smooth functioning of the office. The Mapusa RTO had requested the Department of Information and Technology to replace these computers and printers, but all these efforts have been in vain,” informed the source.
To tide over the space crunch, the Transport department has rented out additional space of 195 sq mtrs on the second floor from the Kadamba Transport Corporation.
“The department has received administrative approval for it and work is expected to start as soon as Election Code of Conduct is over,” said the source at the Mapusa RTO.
The source further informed that the Transport department has also acquired 20,800 sq mtrs of land adjacent to the existing KTC bus stand.
Incidentally, this area was classified by the Mapusa ODP as a parking zone.
“The Transport department had applied to the Town and Country Planning department and got the zone classification changed in the interest of the Mapusa RTO. The Transport department has already appointed a consultant to prepare a project report for the new bus terminus and once the project is ready, the Mapusa RTO will be shifted to new spacious premises,” added the source.
