Karnataka - Madikeri   

Kodagu RTA gets revenue target of Rs. 7.2 cr.

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, JULY 3. The State Government has fixed a revenue target of Rs. 7.2 crore for the Kodagu Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for 2004-05, which is up by Rs. 40 lakh when compared to that of the previous year.

The Kodagu Regional Transport Officer (RTO), H.S. Ramesh, told The Hindu on Saturday that during the first quarter of the current year (April to June), the RTA had collected Rs. 1.61 crore, which was better than what had been collected during the corresponding period the previous year. Mr. Ramesh said that owing to the monsoon, the collection in July and August was likely to be poor.

During the rainy season, the contract carriages were `surrendered' to the RTA for two months, which meant that no taxes had to be paid on the vehicles for two months, he said. Each bus fetched up to Rs. 25,000 a month in taxes. This could lead to poor collection and losses to the Government, he said.

After the monsoon, the contract carriages would be back on roads, he said and added that 15 contract carriages would remain off road in Kodagu during July and August.

Mr. Ramesh noted that the slight improvement in revenue collection could not be attributed to the marginal improvement in coffee prices at this point of time.

He said that scooters and motorcycles topped the list of registration at the RTA. As against the 298 two-wheelers registered in the first quarter of the previous year, 273 two-wheelers had been registered during the corresponding period this year. Also, 114 cars and 63 autorickshaws had been registered during the same period, he said. A total of 226 vehicles in all categories had been registered in April, 217 in May, and 178 in June, he said. Mr. Ramesh expressed confidence that the RTA would achieve the target on time.

Emission

Mr. Ramesh announced that the RTA would launch a drive on September 1 to ensure that the vehicles did not violate the emission norms. Two emission testing centres had been opened in the district, one each at Madikeri and Kushalnagar, he said and added that the cost of the emission test for both the petrol and diesel vehicles was nominal.

He appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles did not violate the emission norms. Every motorist should compulsorily carry the emission certificate and produce it when asked for, Mr. Ramesh said and warned that the erring drivers would have to pay a hefty penalty if they were found flouting traffic rules.

He announced that a meeting would be convened in the second week of July to discuss various issues concerning road safety.

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