RTO services, hit automobile business, software conversion

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 29, 2018: Automobile dealers in Dakshina Kannada have seen at least a 30% drop in business even as fitness certificates for at least 1,500 transport vehicles have not been issued at the Mangaluru and Puttur Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) since March 19, when these offices migrated to the Vahan4 software.

The department’s promise of normal services from March 27 has not materialised as the system is yet to stabilise.

Responding to pleas to postpone the migration till after the financial year was over, State Transport Commissioner B. Dayananda had promised that there would be no inconvenience to users.

The Vahan4 migration started from Ramanagaram and has covered Chandapura, Haveri, Ranibennur, Bantwal, Puttur and Mangaluru so far.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Dakshina Kannada Automobile and Tyres Dealers’ Association had urged the Transport Minister to postpone the migration to April to help dealers complete their business targets. “We are not against migration. The short notice for service disruption handicapped us from planning alternatives,” said KCCI president Vathika Pai. “We wanted the migration to be postponed,” she said. Association secretary Shashidhar Pai Maroor said two-wheeler dealers were the most affected, as unlike with four-wheelers, most of two-wheeler buying is unplanned.

Prasad Raj Kanchan, managing director of Kanchana Hyundai, said both two-wheeler and four-wheeler dealers suffered at least 30% reduction in March business. “Now they have arranged temporary registration of vehicles, which could have been done from day one,” he said.

Meanwhile, at least 1,500 transport vehicles, goods and passenger, did not get mandatory fitness certificate following the absence of treasury services, making their operation illegal.

No training

Sources in the department said the migration was thrust upon offices that were already severely short-staffed without any training. One more month may be required for the system to stabilise.Mangaluru and Puttur might be suffering from connectivity issues as at least 8-10 mbps connectivity is required. Vahan4 is stabilising in Ramanagaram, sources said.

The department cannot make temporary arrangement as Vahan4 is managed at pan-India level with a central server that offers limited corrections to entries. While the existing Vahan3 was integrated to Khajane2 of Karnataka, Vahan4 is yet to be integrated, sources said.