Mangaluru : The office of the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic and Senior Regional Transport Officer, Mangaluru has surpassed the budget target in revenue collection by collecting Rs 206.49 crore in 2016-17 against the target of Rs 182.35 crore.

The revenue collection had been good despite the office facing severe shortage of enforcement and other staff. The achievement of the RTO was 113.24% in the financial year. A sum of Rs 73.29 lakh was collected as fine for violating the traffic rules and Rs 205 crore was collected as tax from new vehicles, permits and other sources.

According to the available documents, the Transport department has inspected a total of 4,952 vehicles during the year, of which, tax and fine was levied on 1,177 vehicles. From 773 goods vehicles a sum of Rs 31.93 lakh. Acting against stage carriages (buses), the department checked them and booked cases against 254 buses while realising a penalty of Rs 30.98 lakh. A fine of Rs 1.78 lakh was collected from 178 autorickshaws. A total of 185 vehicles were seized.

From April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, the RTO, Mangaluru, has registered 45,179 new vehicles. This comprises 9,754 cars, 26,299 bikes (below 300 cc), 11,372 two-wheelers (above 300 cc), 2,113 autorickshaws, 988 light goods vehicles, 652 tempo travellers and 96 school vehicles.

A total of 4,971 vehicles were registered in January, which is a record. After the government scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8, the registration of vehicles had declined in November and December. In the month of November, a total of 3,234 vehicles while in December 1,773 vehicles were registered and entered the road.

Deputy commissioner of traffic and senior regional transport officer G S Hegde said, “There is a shortage of 50% staff in Mangaluru RTO. In spite of it, we have surpassed the revenue target. Moreover, there is a craze for high-end and luxury cars in the coastal region, which helped to surpass the revenue collection.”In 2016-17, 305 persons have purchased luxury cars worth above Rs 20 lakh, 191 in 2015-16 and 164 in 2014-15.