Mangalore: Mangalore Press Club in association with Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists Union organized a ‘Meet the Press with RTO C Mallikarjun’ at Press Club on May 30, Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Regional Transport Office had a target of tax collection of Rs 101 crore in the year 2011-12, but it made an achievement by collecting Rs 112 crore, which is double than in the year 2006-07 which was Rs 47.60 crore.

He also said that RTO has completed 1.87 crore enforcement. The vehicles from Pondicherry, Kerala, Gujarath are running in Mangalore at large numbers, but the vehicles from Pondicherry are difficult to trace and manage. Even though the department has traced 27 vehicles from Pondicherry, they could collect tax from only 11 vehicles and others are allowed to pass out without paying taxes with the influence of reputed people. The people of the state must support to receive tax to the state and not help other state by cheating, he said.

He also said that a amount of Rs 1.55 crore of tax has been collected from 25 vehicle owners, while 45 other vehicles were traced for registering in others states and thereby a tax of Rs 30 lac was collected. According to the section 47, after one year the vehicle from other state running our state will get the registration.

Speaking on the high beam headlights, he said that RTO and the police department conduct a drive on this issue used on the highway by vehicles.

So far the RTO has been trying to educate and create awareness among the people on the order against tinted glass in vehicles. The vehicle must have clear transparent glass and even the mirror must not have any film adopted in it and this will be strictly initiated by June, he said.

Speaking on the RTO administration office, he said that at present the RTO office lacks sufficient staffs and parking facility and the authority has been informed to recruit more staffs in coming days. The present building of RTO will have a corporate look with air condition among other facilities to provide good working atmosphere for the staff.

The demands for issuing smart cards is increasing, but got delayed due to staff scarcity, further this will be sorted out and vehicle owners driving licenses will be converted into smart cards by the month of August, he said.
 
He said that RT Office will have about 150 driving licenses, 100 LLRs, 200 new registrations of vehicles, and  in all 1,500 applications to be are sorted out in the city everyday.

DKWJU president P B Harish Rai introduced and welcomed the guest. Srinivas Indaje, secretary proposed vote of thanks.