Motor Traffic Dept. to enhance efficiency

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Department of Motor Traffic will decentralise its office network by setting up offices in districts to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in registering and licensing motor vehicles, Commissioner Motor Traffic B. Wijayaratne told the 'Sunday Observer' .

He said around Rs. 40 million was allocated in the 2007 Budget for decentralisation work and the Department has called upon the Government to allocate Rs. 50 million in the next Budget to set up six district offices in Gampaha, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota.

"Funds have been allocated by the Ministry of Nation Building to construct two district offices at Vavuniya and Batticaloa under the Government's East development program", he said.

The Commissioner said the construction work of the district offices will be completed by mid next year.

The Department of Motor Traffic operates 25 offices which are entrusted with only issuing driving licences and registering motorcycles.The decentralisation of work will reduce the processing time to register, issue licence and transfer motor vehicles. Wijayaratne said the decentralisation work will ease the burden of applicants and reduce the workload at the Head Office in Narahenpita.

"The current district level offices which are headed by the Examiner of Motor Vehicles will be elevated to offices under the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner", he said.

He said the Department will be fully automated with an online network to the district office which will simplify the work.

When asked whether the number of vehicles in the country is one too many, he said the number of vehicles in Colombo has increased but not in rural areas where transportation is a major problem.

"The disparity in the number of vehicles has an adverse impact on the economy", he said.

The Commissioner said a program will be launched to carry out periodical inspections of driving schools to assess the quality of training.

Stern action will be taken against driving schools that do not follow the standards set by the Motor Traffic Department, Wijayaratne said.

Training will be provided to driving schools to improve the standards. Driving schools have been instructed not to set up branches.

He said disciplinary action will be taken against officers who are involved in malpractices.

The number of vehicles registered in 2006 was 300,522, a 31 percent increase compared to 2005. The number of vehicles registered in 2005 was 229,669.

Over 82 percent of the vehicles registered in 2006 were new vehicles while 16 percent were reconditioned.

The number of applications seeking driving licences for heavy vehicles was 48,839 while 39,691 were for light vehicles.

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