State RTOs to get 235 new recruits

City’s short-staffed Regional Transport Office (RTO) is all set to get some reprieve. For, the state transport department has employed 235 mid-level staff — 101 clerks, 106 assistant inspectors and 28 inspectors.

City’s short-staffed Regional Transport Office (RTO) is all set to get some reprieve. For, the state transport department has employed 235 mid-level staff — 101 clerks, 106 assistant inspectors and 28 inspectors.

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The joining orders will be issued by the end of January. “The staff crunch faced in the RTOs will reduce once the posts are filled. The sanctioned posts are being filled. If need be, we will get more posts sanctioned. The addition of assistant inspectors and inspectors will help in better enforcement of law,” said Dr Shailesh Kumar Sharma, transport secretary, Maharashtra.

With over 10% annual increase in vehicles on state roads, the current workforce is not sufficient to regulate them. Moreover, with 40-50% approved posts remaining vacant, operation becomes difficult. A case in point could be the Andheri RTO wherein 45% posts are vacant. “Of the sanctioned 247, 110 posts of inspectors, clerks, assistant inspectors and others are vacant. There are occasions when the remaining staff too avails of their leaves. That leaves us with 50% of the staff, which is very less,” said DV Modak, assistant inspector, Andheri RTO.

Likewise, Wadala RTO is 35% understaffed as 55 of the 160 approved posts are vacant. “The approved posts are as per the old model, when the duty of RTO was restricted to revenue collection and enforcement of vehicle laws. Now we organise road safety weeks, supervise implementation of school bus policy, regulate errant auto drivers, provide helpline service and so,” said senior RTO official from Wadala RTO.

“With addition in tasks, ideally the sanctioned staff should have been increased. But,

sadly, the approved staff too has not been made available yet. However, we hope the new recruits will give some relief,” he added.