Maharashtra RTOs, police must remove abandoned vehicles

MUMBAI: In Maharashtra, the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and police have been given a 100-day deadline to remove abandoned vehicles from their premises. These vehicles, often called "khataras," have been taking up valuable space and making it hard for drivers to find parking. At a recent meeting with state chief secretary Sujata Saunik, officials were ordered to clear old vehicles and other junk. The goal is to make RTOs and police stations more welcoming for citizens. "We want all RTOs to identify these vehicles and figure out how to auction or remove them," a transport department official said. Currently, there are over 10,000 abandoned vehicles sitting at RTOs in Maharashtra. These rusty vehicles often crowd areas where people go for driving tests. Authorities will notify the owners of any impounded vehicles before they are scrapped or auctioned. In the past year, more than 19,700 vehicles from government offices and police have been scrapped. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicles older than 15 years must be removed from the roads. Unlike private vehicle owners, the government cannot pay a green tax to keep older vehicles running. This fiscal year, officials have scrapped over 8,800 vehicles from the central and state governments, with a significant number from the police department. These scrapped vehicles include cars, two-wheelers, ambulances, and other service vehicles.