KPT area in city prone to traffic chaos

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 20, 2018: Now that the present vehicle inspection yard of the Transport Department which got shifted from RTO near State Bank to KPT, traffic snarls too appear to have got shifted to areas around KPT choking vehicular movement on National Highway 66.

The busy central business district area in the city used to get choked every working day as vehicles would line up in front of the Regional Transport Office abutting A.B. Shetty Circle.

The then DK DC  A.B. Ibrahim scouted for an alternative location and asked the department to use vacant land abutting NH 66 near Bangra Kulur.

Within a year, the department had to vacate the location as the land was reportedly allotted for some other purpose and it was asked to conduct vehicle inspection at Vyasanagar, Kadri Hills, off KPT.  Vehicle inspection is done for two categories—new registrations and renewal of fitness certificates.

All categories of new vehicles, right from two-wheeler to buses and trucks, have to be brought for physical inspection to the RTO for registration. Besides, transport vehicles [with Yellow Registration plates], namely, goods vehicles and passenger vehicles, have to be inspected every year before the department issues fitness certificates.

An average about 150 vehicles, both new as well as old, are brought to Vyasanagar for inspection.  Since the ground is too small and the number of vehicles is increasing every day, vehicles line up on National Highway 66 between A.J. Hospital and KPT Junction. Consequently, free flow of vehicles on the busy NH gets affected.

Sources in the department said that mere change of venue may not address the problem unless adequate space along with proper entry and exit are provided.

Sources also added that traffic snarls on the NH are not regular feature; but only temporary. Once RTOs at Surathkal and B.C. Road become functional, there should not be any issue, sources added.