Unclaimed vehicles: Hyderabad regional transport authority offices turn garages

HYDERABAD: Open areas near many regional transport authority (RTA) offices have turned into mass garages for vehicles that have remained unclaimed by their owners, in some cases, for over a decade.
These mounting piles of unclaimed vehicles are eating up open spaces which otherwise could have been used as parking spaces for vehicles of those who visit these offices. Instead, these unclaimed vehicles of which many have rusted bodies, occupy the spaces as people prefer not to take them even after cases against them have been settled.
During a visit to Trimulgherry RTA office, TOI found many auto rickshaws, cars and other vehicles piled on top of each other, all gathering dust. Similar was the case in Nagole where vehicles were left abandoned in an open space opposite Balaji temple. RTA officials are supposed to conduct an auction if the vehicle is not claimed, however, in most cases they fail to even send a notice to the owner.
“The RTA cannot keep vehicles for years together. They have to dispose them through auction or by sending a notice to the owner for release of these vehicles. If the owner does not pay the penalty, the department must take action as per Motor Vehicle Act,” said Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union general secretary, M Dayanand.
The Act states that the department should give a notification in the newspaper saying that on a given date, the vehicle will be put up for auction. “After the notice is given, a tender officer will be appointed to conduct the auction which will be organised in the presence of the public. This should be the process but because the RTA is not sending notices, the vehicles are gathering rust and just lying in open spaces for several years,” said Dayanand.
When contacted, joint transport commissioner C Ramesh said: “We have sent notices to owners and it is in process. The vehicles will be disposed in auction if they don’t come forward to claim them.”