Understaffed MVD Struggles to Enforce Traffic Laws

KAKKANAD: Though the number of vehicles in the city have gone up to 20 lakh, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD)is yet to appoint sufficient number of officials to enforce traffic laws and nab violations. 

According to a report accessed from the Motor Vehicles Department, a total 18 officials are being deployed to carry out enforcement activities in the  district. Under the RTO Enforcement, four squads are functioning with eight assistant motor vehicle inspectors and four motor vehicle inspector. Whereas under the RTO Ernakulam, only one squad is available and the situation is same under the Deputy Transport Commissioner too.

“The department has send a memorandum to the state government and to the respective authorities to strengthen the staff but no action has been taken in this regard. At present, we have only 18 enforcement officials but more than 20 lakh vehicles ply here. This means that one official has to take care of around 1.1 lakh vehicle which is an impossible task,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

However, officials withe the MVD said there was no need for more staff as there are surveillance cameras all over the city. But, the fact remains that the cameras are not installed in city limits.

As per data, 97 advanced cameras installed by the MVD from the Kasargod to Cherthala but it focuses only on the National Highway and not the city areas. Besides, RTO’s officials at Mattanchery, Trippunithura, Aluva, North Paravur and Angamaly sub-offices are involved in clerical duties and do not get  extra time for enforcement duties. “How can they properly perform the enforcement duties as all these offices have only five officials, including one joint RTO, two motor vehicle inspector and three assistant motor vehicles inspector. If they go for enforcement, clerical jobs will go 

pending,” official said.

When contacted, Transport Commissioner R Sreelekha said there was a shortage of staff but there were sufficient numbers of enforcement vehicles.

“We have 190 vehicles for the enforcement all over the state. We have submitted a proposal to the government for forming additional forces and to take more number of people to the department for conducting the enforcement in a strict manner,” said Sreelekha.