Hyderabad Facing Shortage of Regional Transport Officers
The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in Hyderabad is currently dealing with a shortage of Regional Transport Officers (RTOs). Out of 11 RTA offices in Greater Hyderabad, six are being managed by in-charge officers instead of full-time RTOs.
With the increasing number of vehicles in the city, transport-related services have also grown. However, the absence of full-time officers has caused delays in processing various applications. Offices in Bandlaguda, Secunderabad, Tolichowki, Kondapur, Uppal, and Nagole are currently being managed by Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) instead of RTOs.
Since certain decisions require RTO-level approval, the lack of these officers has created administrative issues. For example, in Bandlaguda, which falls under the South Zone, the RTO from Malakpet (East Zone) is responsible for additional duties. This officer has to travel 12 kilometers between Malakpet and Bandlaguda, making it difficult to manage both offices efficiently. Similarly, MVIs are handling duties in Secunderabad, Tolichowki, Kondapur, Uppal, and Nagole, but they can only spend one to two hours at these additional offices.
M. Dayanand, general secretary of the Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union, highlighted that the absence of full-time RTOs is causing delays in important decisions such as late vehicle registrations and other transport-related approvals. The dual responsibilities make it difficult for officials to manage the growing workload effectively.
An RTO, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that handling two offices at once is challenging. Managing files, transactions, and other tasks becomes overwhelming, affecting the efficiency of the department.
Due to this shortage, RTA offices are struggling to manage essential services like vehicle registrations, license renewals, and permit processing. Transport unions have raised concerns that the increased workload on the existing staff is leading to slower service.
To ensure smooth functioning and better service delivery to the public, transport unions have urged the government to address the shortage of RTOs as soon as possible.
