Pune RTO Delays Driving License And RC But Traffic Police Still Imposing Penalties
Pune, 15th September 2023: A staggering 10,000-plus drivers in Pune have found themselves in a bureaucratic bind as they await their vehicle licenses from the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Meanwhile, the city’s traffic police are diligently enforcing penalties for drivers found without the requisite vehicle licenses or vehicle registration certificates (RCs). As the backlog persists, drivers are grappling with the conundrum of how to navigate the city’s roads legally.
The ordeal stems from the transport department’s contract for vehicle licenses and RC smart cards, previously awarded to Rosmarta, which was subsequently terminated after a brief tenure. The responsibility has now shifted to the Manipal Technology Company, based in Karnataka. The issuance of smart cards commenced in September, but the licenses and RCs generated between May 20 and August 20 are still pending, affecting a significant number of motorists in the region.
Frustrated by the delay, officials representing the city’s driving school associations are imploring the RTO administration to expedite the process and alleviate the growing concerns of drivers.
Vitthal Mehta, Vice President of the Maharashtra State Motor Driving School Owners Association in Pune, expressed the gravity of the situation, saying, “Thousands of drivers have not received their licenses since May 20. The concerned company has not yet started printing the backlog of smart cards. On the other hand, the police are taking action.”
Raju Ghatole, President of the Motor Driving School Association in Pune, emphasized the dire consequences of the RTO’s inefficiency, stating, “Drivers are suffering due to the poor management of RTO. The traffic police are not expected to take any action on showing the receipt or the license in the digilocker.”
In response to the mounting concerns, Vijayakumar Magar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), assured drivers that the traffic police would be instructed not to penalize individuals who have yet to receive their licenses or RC smart cards from the RTO.
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