Eight years on, Nerul RTO still delayed

Since 2004, the present Vashi RTO functions from a rented premise at sector 19 inside APMC market

Eight years down the line the proposal of constructing a new regional transport office building at Nerul is still on paper. In 2008 a fresh plan to construct a new Regional Transport Office (RTO) office at Nerul's sector 13 was sanctioned after the present office at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) grain market in Vashi started witnessing space crunch. The new office was to get fully operational by 2013, however the construction work has not yet commenced due of a high tension wire passing through the plot at sector 13.

Since 2004, the present Vashi RTO functions from a rented premise at sector 19 inside APMC market

The present RTO premises at Vashi is facing a space crunch, as a result of which work related to learners license and other documents is facing delays. Further, those coming for driving tests have to travel far from the present RTO premise as the testing ground is situated far from the transport office. Officials said they are facing document storage difficulties as the present premise lacks storage place.

When the proposal was passed, it was decided that it would have ground plus three storey structure and would be built at a cost of Rs 9 crores. However, the high-tension wire passing through the plot was seen as a potential threat to the structure, due to which the PWD department suggested changing the structure of the building.

Sanjay Dhagude, Deputy RTO at Vashi, said, "The PWD has asked us to narrow down the design of the building horizontally and make it a four storied structure to avoid any contact with the high-tension wires. However, we still have to get approval for it."

He added that the project is also stuck due to delays in payment.

Since 2004, the present Vashi RTO functions from a rented premise at sector 19 inside APMC market and officials pay R 30,550 as a rent every month to APMC.