Announced 4 years ago, Borivli RTO yet to open its doors
The fourth regional transport office (RTO) for Mumbai, announced four years ago for north-west Mumbai with the intention of easing the burden on Andheri RTO, is still on paper.
The fourth regional transport office (RTO) for Mumbai, announced four years ago for north-west Mumbai with the intention of easing the burden on Andheri RTO, is still on paper.
In August 2010, the state government had decided to set up a new deputy RTO office for the areas between Goregaon and Dahisar. It had been announced the new deputy RTO office would be called the Borivli RTO and vehicles getting registered there would have numbers starting with MH 47.
The RTO was expected to bring relief to people in the western suburbs, who have to rely only on the Andheri RTO for driving licences and registration of vehicles. Nearly 2,500-3,000 people visit Andheri RTO on every day.
Early in 2014, the transport department even acquired an unused building owned by the BMC on lease, to set up the Borivli RTO at Kandarpada in Dahisar. But a year later, there is still no sign of activity in the building.
Sources said they were hoping the RTO would be inaugurated once the new government came to power. However, the BJP-led government has failed to get things moving so far.
KK Tiwari, leader of the Swabhiman Taxi Rickshaw Union said if taxi and auto rickshaw drivers from areas such as Dahisar and Malad have to visit the Andheri RTO, they waste several hours of work. “The government should take some steps to throw it open as early as possible,” he said.
The Congress-NCP government had also promised to create three other RTO offices – at Panvel, Vasai and Karad, in 2010. While all three are now up and running, the plans for the Borivli RTO still remain on paper.
Minister state for transport Diwakar Raote said he hasn’t received the file pertaining to the Borivli RTO and promised to take a decision on the matter soon.