QUEEN’S ROAD: Many hired cars are flaunting government insignias, changing the colour of their number plates, and enjoying undue privileges. Repeated warnings from the Transport Department have failed to curb the racket.
In many vehicles, the yellow registration plates (meant for hired vehicles) have made way for white ones. Some cabs also bear the state and Central emblems.
M N Venugopal, president of the State Government and Government Concerns Drivers’ Federation, alleged that departments were brazenly flouting the law.
He first took up the issue with the Regional Transport Officer in August 2014, and complained against vehicles hired by the Income Tax and Excise authorities.
“I filed a written complaint with the RTO on September 12, 2014. The RTO summoned the cars for inspection,” Venugopal said.
Documents furnished by Venugopal, copies of which are available with City Express, indicate the vehicles were produced at the RTO on October 3 and 5 last year. The registration plates were found to be in order!
The Toyota Corolla Altis cars bore registration numbers KA-41/A-6818, KA-41/A-6830, KA-41/A-6855, KA-41/A-6844 and KA-41/A-7114.
“The vehicles flouted the norms even after inspection by the RTO officials. So I wrote to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,” Venugopal said.
On January 5, D S Pathania, Under Secretary, Transport, wrote to his Karnataka counterpart, directing him to act. “Despite these orders from the Centre, many vehicles are still flouting norms,” Venugopal said.
Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda confirmed it was illegal for vehicles hired to use white registration plates and flaunt the government’s emblem. “We will act against the owners,” he said.
On February 11, the Additional Commissioner of Transport had issued a notice to the Jnana Bharathi RTO to initiate action against vehicles hired by the I-T Department for violating the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. But nothing came of it, Venugopal rues.
Some vehicles are also using red and amber beacons in violation of a Supreme Court ruling, he alleged.