The Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is falling short of space at its headquarters near the Sangam Bridge in Shivajinagar, has been on the lookout for an alternative plot of land for relocating . In fact, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had suggested a tract of land in Gultekdi, which the RTO refused to take up citing steep rent. During his visit to the Pune RTO in the beginning of this year, state transport secretary C S Sangitrao had directed the Pune RTO authorities to acquire additional or alternative land from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Pune RTO Chandrakant Kharatmal said that with the increasing workload, the RTO is falling short of space. “There is a space crunch as far as the availability of land is concerned. On a daily basis, we issue no less than 8,000 licenses in the city. The pressure is mounting by the day, whereas, the space at our disposal is very limited. Therefore, as per the directions of our higher authorities, we have embarked upon the hunt for a suitable land for this purpose.”

Kharatmal added, “The civic body had suggested us four acre of land in Gultekdi. We had also visited the site, but since the landowner quoted exorbitant rent, we rejected the offer.”

Civic activist Vihar Durve said, “It is absolutely necessary to expand the space, as thousands of people come to the office every day. In fact, ideally, the RTO should set up offices at four corners of the city, to facilitate people and stop the inflow of public to some extent. This will also curb traffic accidents to some extent.”

... contd.