RTO Vacancies Paralyse Vehicle Fitness Checks, Raise Safety Concerns

Thousands of commercial vehicle owners across Tamil Nadu are facing delays in obtaining fitness certificates (FC) due to acute staff shortages in Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), raising serious road safety concerns. The problem stems from a large number of vacant posts for Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) and other key officials.

In Dindigul, share autorickshaw driver Kesavan worries about his vehicle's expiring FC. “All my friends make numerous trips to get FC, but I do not have the luxury as I am taking school trips. I can take leave for a day only,” he says. The Dindigul RTO has a Regional Transport Officer but no Grade 1 or Grade 2 MVIs. An inspector from Batlagundu visits only on Mondays and Wednesdays to test vehicles and issue FCs.

Cab driver Masoor notes that while new vehicle registrations have moved to dealerships via the Vahan Portal, fitness certification still requires an MVI. “On the two days that the MVI is present, there is a heavy rush, and chances are that nuanced jobs like checking brakes may be compromised,” warns social activist Kannan. MVIs are responsible for verifying emissions, braking efficiency, lights, tires, and conducting driving tests. They also compile accident investigation reports.

The vacancy crisis extends across Madurai division. The Madurai North RTO should have five MVIs but all posts are vacant. Central and South RTOs also have no MVIs. An enforcement inspector from Vedasandur visits three times a week to cover the South RTO. Sub-offices like Usilampatti, Thirumangalam, Melur, and Vadipatti are also understaffed, with officers handling multiple jurisdictions.

Vacancies exist at higher levels too, including Deputy Transport Commissioner and Joint Transport Commissioner. This has increased the workload on existing staff, leading to piled-up paperwork and delayed services.

The enforcement wing is also affected. A source from Madurai RTO says officials are unable to check rampant bike races and road rule violations on the Madurai-Natham elevated corridor due to insufficient staff. Similarly, traffic violations by share autos go unchecked. “During the annual inspection of buses of educational institutions, this shortage is intensely felt,” the source adds.

The government is also losing revenue. On average, the Madurai division faces a daily revenue loss of ₹10 lakh from FC fees and enforcement penalties. The automated testing track in Dindigul, operational since February, has not alleviated the problem as it requires MVIs to operate.

Eight years ago, Madurai had no MVI vacancies. But retirements and court cases over seniority have led to the current crisis. Stakeholders demand immediate filling of posts to ensure road safety and efficient public service.