Maharashtra: Transfer of officials hits work at RTOs
The Maharashtra government transferred 130 motor vehicle inspectors (IMVs) across the state last Thursday. With 32 IMVs from the three RTOs in Mumbai being moved out of the city and just 10 set to replace them, RTO officials said daily work at the offices has taken a hit.
The Maharashtra government transferred 130 motor vehicle inspectors (IMVs) across the state last Thursday. With 32 IMVs from the three RTOs in Mumbai being moved out of the city and just 10 set to replace them, RTO officials said daily work at the offices has taken a hit.
Of the 32 IMVs who were transferred from RTOs in Mumbai, the largest number of officials – 14 – were transferred from Andheri, followed by 10 from Wadala RTO, five from Tardeo RTO and three from the transport commissioner’s office (TCO).
While only 10 of the 32 transferred IMVs have so far been replaced in Mumbai, the neighbouring Thane RTO, where corruption is said to be rife, is set to get 12 IMVs – even though just one IMV was transferred out of it.
Sources say the recent transfers will create an imbalance at the RTOs, especially those in Mumbai and Vidarbha. “Earlier, a single inspector could renew fitness certificates of 300 vehicles in a day. Now, as per the high court directive, a single inspector can only renew 56 fitness certificates in a day or take 60 driving tests,” said a senior RTO official.
He said these limitations, in addition to the transfers, are likely to affect work at the RTOs.
Officials said their chief concern is managing the driving tests, since people have been given appointments for them two to six months ago. “We can’t send them back, citing shortage of IMVs,” said the RTO official.
The Andheri RTO is the busiest office in the city, where 2,500 people visit every day for different kinds of work. “Of our 28 officials, half have been transferred. Only four inspectors are going to replace them, but none of them have joined yet. Hence, routine work has been affected at our office and we are facing the anger of people,” said an RTO official, requesting anonymity.
