Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 1: Joint commissioner of transport department attached to Shivamogga division, Shivraj Patil, observed that many bank executives and people in high positions in Dakshina Kannada have been found to be wrongly displaying the words, 'Government of India' in their name plates. At the same time, number plates of certain private vehicles bear names of organizations and institutions. He said that the department will undertake a special drive to address these issues.

Speaking during the 'Transport Adalat' programme organized at the regional transport office here on Thursday November 30 after presiding it over, Patil gave the above response when accepting petitions. He reminded the people that as per law, number plates of vehicles cannot bear any extraneous matter like names. He instructed the officials of the regional transport office here to initiate special drive to remove such number plates.

G K Bhat complained that many two-wheelers have been moving around without getting insurance cover and that steps need to be initiated against them. Patil warned the two-wheeler owners that the officials have the right to impound vehicles not covered by insurance. Bhat also pointed out that many private car owners have been cheating on taxes by registering their vehicles in Pondicherry. He further said that although use of Kannada is mandatory in buses, this is not being followed properly. Patil said that it is compulsory for bus owners to exhibit destinations in Kannada and asked private bus owners to cooperate with the department by abiding to this rule.

When the attention of the concerned was drawn towards the failure of bus owners to stick to the order passed by the district deputy commissioner, who is the chairman of Regional Transport Authority, a few months back to limit the height of the footboards to 52 cm, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Manjunath, said that buses are being checked for this violation and cases are registered on a daily basis.

Environmentalist and wrier, B S Hasanabba, came up with the demands to make it mandatory to have first aid kits in all buses, stopping operation of buses that are older than 15 years, and prompt replacement of old, worn out tyres of buses. A Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activist said that auto rickshaws having rural licences are moving about in cities, thereby creating problems for others. He also said that no steps have been taken even after the regional transport office was intimated about a single person possessing two auto rickshaw permits.