Four more RTOs to open in city

About 46 lakh driving licence smart cards have been issued in all RTOs

Karnataka Government would shortly open four more regional transport offices (RTO) in the city. Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy told reporters in Bangalore on Friday that the additional RTOs would come up in Banashankari, Chamarajpet, R T Nagar and Marathahalli.

With these four, the number of RTOs in Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts would go up to 15.

Department officials said it is also proposed to establish RTOs at Hubli in Dharwad district, Suratkal in Dakshina Kannada district and three Assistant RTOs at Dandeli, Madhugiri and Tarikere. Reddy said a government order had been issued a week earlier enabling public to avail the service required by them from any of the RTOs in these two districts. Services available include Learner's licence, Driver's licence, registration of vehicles and fitness certificate, According to officials, all 57 RTOs and Assistant RTOs in the State have been computerised through public-private-partnership model.

About 53 lakh smart card registration certificates and 46 lakh driving licence smart cards have been issued as on September 25 in all RTOs.

Meanwhile, Reddy said a new bus stand with commercial complex would be built at Kalasipalyam here, which at present is crowded with state-owned buses and private ones, without facilities for passengers, at a cost of Rs 209.09 crore.

Similarly, BTM Layout would also get a new bus stand as the present one does not have adequate facilities, at a cost of Rs 60 crore, the Minister said. Officials said the government has proposed to establish new truck terminals in Raichur, Hospet, Karwar, Mangalore, Hassan and Humnabad.

It is also proposed to establish heavy vehicle driver training institutes at Mangalore and Gulbarga at a cost of Rs 30 crore.