RTOs rise in Maha amid staff crunch

The Maharashtra government's decision to start 10 new Deputy Regional Transport Offices in the past two years has come in for criticism from some quarters over the need and timing of the expansion, especially at a time when 77 per cent of services are available online.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

They also cited a Government Resolution, issued June 18, 2018, which explicitly states that no new RTO office should be established unless a district is bifurcated.

The GR had specified that vehicle testing centres or camp offices could be set up instead of creating new RTOs in larger districts.

Before this GR, the state's RTOs and Deputy RTOs stood at 50, with the last one coming up in 2011 in Karad, the home turf of then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

From May 2023, the state has seen deputy RTOs being set up at Ichalkaranji (MH 51), Chalisgaon (MH 52), Phaltan (MH 53), Bhadgaon (MH 54), Udgir (MH 55), Khamgaon (MH 56), Vaijapur (MH 57), Mira Bhayandar (MH 58), Jat (MH 59) and Palghar (MH 60).