Transport Commissioner for strict compliance of Pollution Control norms for vehicles

Biswas reviews progress on ‘Mission Zero Footfall’ for issuance of driving licenses

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 25: Calling for enforcing strict pollution check measures for vehicles, Transport Commissioner, J&K, Saugat Biswas today asked the Pollution Checking Centres to ensure computerized testing and certification with minimum levels of human interface.

Transport Commissioner was speaking at a meeting convened today through Video-Conferencing with RTOs, ARTOs and owners of the Pollution Checking Centres across the State.

Biswas said, in accordance with the recent instructions of the Governor, foolproof certification of Pollution Control and its strict enforcement should be ensured. He enjoined upon the owners of the Pollution Checking Centres not to deviate in any manner from the pollution checking norms.

Transport Commissioner instructed the Regional Transport Officers and Assistant Regional Transport Officers to conduct surprise checks, and monitor the working of the Pollution Checking Centres in their jurisdiction strictly, and also submit monthly report in this regard. He further instructed the RTOs/ARTOs to check all aspects of the working of Pollution Checking Centres including availability of Pollution checking equipment of approved specifications, availability of trained and technical manpower to operate the machines, updated software and requisite computer infrastructure, back-up facility, updated calibration and Annual Maintenance Contract.

It was decided in the meeting that the Pollution Checking Centres shall, henceforth, issue Pollution Under Control Stickers displaying the Pollution Checking Certificate validity on the windscreen to the vehicle owners. “The department will make the stickers available at nominal cost to the Pollution Checking Centres” Biswas said.

The owners of Pollution Checking Centers assured their full cooperation and also expressed their gratitude for enhancing the rates of the Pollution Checking Certificate and bringing them at par with other States.

While reviewing the progress achieved in “Mission Zero Footfall” initiated by the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), Transport Commissioner congratulated the RTOs/ARTOs and the Postal Department for successfully launching the Postal Delivery of Driving Licenses and Registration Certificates to the concerned applicants. RTOs/ARTOs were issued instructions for maintenance of data on daily basis to ensure that no over-the-counter delivery of Licenses/Registration Certificates be made available henceforth.

All the proposals for attaining “zero footfall” in RTO, ARTO offices were deliberated upon in the meeting. Timelines were set for simplifying processes for vehicle permits, vehicle transfer/ hypothecation, fitness of vehicles and passenger tax, among other services.

Transport Commissioner also declared that from now onwards online slot booking will require simultaneous fee submission online. This will reduce mass booking of slots by agents, thereby making slots for preferred days available to the general public. “We shall ensure that the service sector that the MVD attends to will utilize all means of e-governance and process simplification to make availing of services easier for the residents of the State. We have started on the mission and hopefully achieve success service by service steadily within a few months,” he said.

Various other issues were discussed in the meeting including issuance of Identity Cards for authorized representatives of Transport Service Licenses holders.

The meeting was attended by Ajaz Abdullah, Additional Transport Commissioner; Vikas Sharma, Joint Transport Commissioner, J&K; Rakesh Gupta, Scientist, NIC; Deep Raj, Regional Transport Officer, Jammu; Raj Kumar Thapa, Regional Transport Officer, Kathua; Dr Zubair Sultan, Account Officer; Wajahat Qayoom ARTO, BoI Srinagar; Arif Parvaiz, ARTO Srinagar; and other ARTOs, senior officers and owners of Pollution Centres of J&K through video conference.