Meenambakkam RTO continues to function without own building

The Meenambakkam Regional Transport Office (RTO), one of the busiest offices in the city, continues to function without its own permanent building, causing severe inconvenience to applicants.

With the driving test ground situated nearly 2 km away from the office, applicants are forced to shuttle between the two locations for various procedures, causing delays and confusion.

Stakeholders, including driving school owners, have urged authorities to relocate the RTO to a nearby site to streamline operations.

The office is currently located in a rented commercial building owned by the Chennai Corporation in Alandur. There is little space for visitors to park their two-wheelers on the campus and none for four-wheelers.

An RTO staff said, “Meenambakkam RTO was once overcrowded since it catered to the entire population of south Chennai. Subsequently, more than two RTOs were set up in the adjoining areas. Around 100 driving licences are processed and 75 vehicles registered here every day.”

The St. Thomas Mount Regional Driving School Owners’ Welfare Association has urged the State Government to relocate the RTO to the recently vacated site at Alandur, opposite the Officers’ Training Academy, where a Saravana Bhavan restaurant once operated. It was classified as government poramboke land, and a portion of the land had already been allotted to the Meenambakkam RTO.

In its appeal, the association said the location would be highly suitable as it was close to the driving test ground.

The move, it added, would greatly benefit the public and officials who faced difficulties due to the distance between the RTO and the testing ground.

“At present, applicants are required to travel between the two locations multiple times for photography, verification, and other formalities, causing delays,” said A.K. James Jayaseelan, former general secretary of Tamil Nadu Driving Owners’ Federation. He added that most of the testing grounds in the city were located far from their RTOs.

Solomon Jayakumar, president of St. Thomas Mount Regional Driving School Owners’ Welfare Association, added that the route to the ground always faced traffic congestion.

The association said the existing building on the new site was in a good condition and could be occupied immediately without much renovation. This would allow the Transport Department to begin operations quickly, saving both time and costs.

Mr. Jayaseelan added that the relocation would improve coordination between administrative and testing sections, enhance operational efficiency,  and reflect the government’s commitment to effective governance.