Regional transport office was established in 1984 on land belonging to Public works department and cannot erect any permanent structure on premises; Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar gave instructions for the land to be transferred last year, but nothing has happened so far.
Apart from the weak security in the main Regional Transportation Office (RTO) building at Sangam bridge and other burning issues like theft of seized vehicles and parts, other major problems plague the RTO at Alandi Road. Since it was established on a Public Works Department (PWD) plot of a little over one acre in 1984, the RTO authority has sent several proposals seeking transfer of the land.
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Transfer issues: The Regional Transport Office at Alandi Road, which does not have any permanent structures and compound walls, since the land belongs to PWD and no permanent constructions are permitted to come up. Pic/Krunal Gosavi
The RTO authority is not permitted to make any permanent modifications or constructions since it does not have any legal holding on the land. As a result, makeshift sheds have been serving as offices, where the paper work gets done, and the entire premise is not protected by a fence or wall.
The inspection ground at the Alandi Road office is where driving tests are conducted before licences are issued to drivers of private and commercial vehicles. Besides the tests, the office handles registration of transport vehicles, and conducts routine passing activities.
Busy hub: The inspection ground at Alandi Road Regional Transport Office teeming with commercial, private vehicles waiting to be inspected for fitness certificate. Driving tests are also conducted here and the office also handles registrations, besides other essential procedures. File pic
“Though it is government land, it has not yet been transferred to the RTO. No construction, even minor work, can be done on the land as the formalities like possession are yet to be completed. We have been demanding that land should be transferred to the RTO,” said Arun Yeola, Pune RTO.
Since the Alandi road office was established in 1984, the RTO authority has sent several proposals seeking transfer of the land to the state government. “The proposals normally go through the District Collector and Divisional Commissioner’s office. After scrutinizing all documents, both the offices had given the green signal, after which the proposal was sent to the state government in 2006. Still however, we have not received any response,” said Sanjay Dhaygude, deputy Pune RTO.
Plans held up
“The first step before thinking of modernising is for the land to be in possession of the RTO. After getting possession, we can construct a boundary wall, a multi-storeyed building and proper testing tracks. This is the only inspection ground for all of Pune city, so a large number of vehicles turn up for tests and passing each day.”
Recently, the RTO authority prepared a fresh proposal, which was submitted to the state government. On September 28, 2012, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with RTO and officials of the state government’s transport department.
“During the meeting, Pawar discussed all the issues related to the RTO and gave instruction to transfer the land on a priority basis. But no action has been taken,” said a senior RTO officer on condition of anonymity. u00a0He added that Alandi Road office lacks basic amenities and the electricity was disconnected twice for non-payment of bills.
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