MANGALURU: Lokayukta chief Justice P Vishwanath Shetty's orders to Mangaluru RTO (regional transport office) and Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on stepping up passenger amenities had been ignored, activists regretted on Tuesday.
B S Hasanabba Ammembala from Konaje raising the issue at weekly public grievance programme, 'Janaspandana' organised at Mangaluru RTO, said Lokayukta chief responding to his complaint had issued an order in December 2017 directing RTO and MCC on providing a temporary bus stand for passengers between Hampankatte and Bavutagudda within six weeks.
"Six months had passed and RTO or MCC had not responded,'' he charged. Another activist G K Bhat recollected that Lokyukta chief had passed orders on re-routing buses in order to pick passengers alighting at Mangalore Railway Junction in Kankanady.
But so far RTO nor MCC had made any efforts to re-direct buses towards Mangaluru junction railway station, Bhat lamented. Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector and in-charge Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) John Misquith clarified that bus stands are selected by MCC in consultation with district administration.
He promised to write to both deputy commissioner and MCC commissioner on implementing Lokayukta's order and constructing a temporary bus stand between Hampankatte and Bavutagudda. He also promised to look into feasibility of re-routing buses towards Mangaluru junction railway station. Misquith conceded that RTO was facing teething problems in the implementation of new softwares, `Vahan-IV' and `Sarathi'. Thus only 30 applications for learners licence was being accepted per day.
As staff get acquainted with new software, RTO would double its capacity for issuing learners licence soon, he said. When another resident Martin Pinto complained about unnecessary delay in disposing of scrap vehicles, Misquith agreed that there were some loopholes in Vahan-IV and he had drawn this to the attention of top brass in transport department.
Hasanabba,an elderly resident himself, urged RTO to increase number of seats reserved for elderly citizens and differently abled."Eight women passengers are benefitted by RTO's order to reserve four seats. Likewise six differently abled and senior citizens will be immensely benefited if RTO reserves three seats,'' he said.
Another resident Madhav complained lack of railings to board the bus or guards to protect passengers from pouring rain. Complainants also urged RTO to conduct Janaspandana once a fortnight during the evening hours.(suggested box)Mangaloreans obsessed about their vehicles Mangaloreans are passionate about keeping their vehicles shining and in running condition, Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector and in-charge Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) John Misquith said on Tuesday.
Misquith who has worked in different RTOs informs that unlike anywhere Mangaluru RTO gets highest number of applications seeking re-registration of their private vehicles above 15 years. "It is for this reason that Mangaluru RTO's record room has documents dating back to 30 years and more,'' he said.eom