Shortage of staff leaves Udupi RTO lame

The Regional Transport Office, which had  revenue of Rs 3 crore way back in 1984 today has a revenue of Rs 90 crores.  However, the startling fact is that the department earning such huge income has only 8 officials for the district. The number of employees sanctioned by the government about 30 years ago has been faithfully maintained till date, without taking into consideration the quantum jump in revenue and number of vehicles in the region.

The result is that the existing handful of employees has been overtly burden. There are 2.50 lakh vehicles estimated to be plying in the RTO limits here. Large section of these vehicle owners frequent to the RTO for issue of license, renewal of license or various other reasons. Due to scarcity of manpower the vehicle owners are either sent back to return after a few days or they are made to wait in the pipeline for several months. The employees here are undoubtedly unable to handle pressure.

Vacancies

Though the RTO has been given a spacious office at Rajathadri in Manipal, when it comes to number of persons working in the department, the office looks way larger than what was needed.

One of the most important posts, the post of Assistant RTO itself is lying vacant since several years. While a Regional Transport Officer has been working, there are three sanctioned posts for Senior Inspector of Motor Vehicles, out of which only one post has been filled.

There are three posts of Office Superintendents, out of which two are lying vacant. Two posts of second division clerks are yet to be filled. Posts of one stenographer and one typist are vacant. One post of driver is lying vacant.

Density of vehicles

According to data available with the department there are 2,48,875 vehciles registered in Udupi. On an average 50 to 60 two-wheelers are registered every day. Amidst the pressure of performing various responsibilities in the office, the staffs are expected to hold camp every Tuesday at Kundapur and every Thursday at Karkala. Every third Saturday the camp is held at Padubidri where the officials have to be present without fail. Everyday 250-300 applicants for new license are to be tested on various yardsticks by the officials concerned. Due to this three inspectors have to be in Udupi throughout the day. The RTO officials are working 16 hours a day.

Kundapur office

It is said that 60 per cent of the department's income comes from Kundapur taluk. Further, the officials of the department are available here only on Tuesday. Hence the vehicle owners of Kundapur, Byndoor, Kollur and nearby areas have to depend on Udupi invariably. The locals have floated a demand to start a sub office in Kundapur.