PUDUCHERRY: Three Transport Department branch offices are to be set up in Oulgaret, Bahour and Villianur taluks in a phased manner to cater to the requirement of the population.
The branch offices, as was announced by Chief Minister N Rangasamy, would ease the crowding at the Transport Department main office at the 100 Feet Road.
Also, the CM had announced the construction of a transport complex with a driving test yard in Karaikal region of the Territory.
As per the budget announcements recently, the planned allocation for the Transport Department this financial year was `7.90 crore. The announcements included: a comprehensive mobility plan for the UT, which is under preparation, to ensure safe and speedier transport; the setting up of an Urban Transport Authority to manage the urban transport requirement; and the establishment of the urban transport fund to partially offset the department expenditure.
Transport Commissioner S D Sundaresan told Express that three places in Puducherry region had been identified to set up the offices and the proposal submitted to the government for approval. The Transport Department Office at the 100 Feet Road was congested with the number of applicants for registration of vehicles, issue of licences, etc hence the need for the new offices. The people from far- off places, especially rural areas, have to come all the way to get their licences, renew them, pay tax, permits and for high-security number plates. Barring registration of the vehicles, other activities would be done at these branch offices, Sundaresan said.
Now, even the driving licence tests were done at the office on the 100 Feet Road and there was a rise in the number of applicants for the driving licences. The high-security number plates were also issued from the same office, making it congested most of the office hours.