Record number of commercial route permits issued after 10 years

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: Continuing action against traffic violators, Motor Vehicle Department has been tirelessly working towards creating awareness about the importance of wearing helmets and seat belts while riding a two-wheeler or driving a car.
Despite these efforts some individuals continue to disregard the safety regulations, putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.
Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir officials made it clear that the department is committed to ensuring road safety and will not tolerate any negligence in this regard.
Under the MVA,i t is mandatory for all two wheeler riders to wear helmets and for four wheeler drivers’ seat belts. Failure to comply with this requirement is treated as violation of law.
RTO officials urged district officers to continue working with enthusiasm towards this objective and emphasized that violators should not only be penalized, but their driving licenses, registration of vehicles, and commercial permits should be suspended and cancelled.
RTO official data reveals that across all the districts of Kashmir Division, 303 driving licenses, 52 registration certificates of vehicles, and 305 commercial permits were suspended or cancelled in the last two quarters, beside this during the Q1 & Q2 of the financial year, 43297 new vehicles were registered. Also, 2604 fresh permits were issued and 9792 renewed; 2627 fresh fitness certificates were issued and 14256 renewed; 17599 fresh driving licenses were issued and 17956 renewed, besides 6594 vehicle transfer cases were completed in the first two quarters.
RTO Kashmir officials reiterated the importance of prioritizing a smooth and reliable public transport system to enhance the convenience of the general public. “By implementing an efficient public transport system, the number of cars on the roads can be significantly reduced, thereby alleviating traffic congestion. It will not only ensure ease of mobility for the residents but also contribute to more sustainable and environment friendly transportation”, an official said.
It is important to mention that the Regional Transport Office Kashmir has recorded revenue of Rs 216 Cr in the first two quarters of the current financial year 2022-23, representing a growth of 30 percent compared to the previous financial year during the same period.
Officials of the Regional Transport Office Kashmir said while providing figures a record number of 1607 Fresh Commercial Route Permits were issued for Maxi Cabs, Taxis, and Buses in the last six months, after the process was resumed after nearly 10 years. Meanwhile, the RTO officials praised the district officers and other officials of MVD for their remarkable performance in collecting fines for various road safety, traffic, and transport violations. The fines collected have witnessed a remarkable growth of 71 percent, with total recovery increasing from Rs 0.87 Cr. to Rs 1.50 Cr. during the period under review.