Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kashmir, Qazi Irfan reviewed the Bandipora ARTO office on Saturday, November 7, examining licensing, registration and other public services while directing staff to clear applications within statutory timelines. His visit focused on administrative performance, pending cases and reducing unnecessary trips for residents seeking transport documents.
Licences, Registrations and Digital Applications Under Review
At the office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Bandipora, Qazi Irfan examined the delivery of driving licences, vehicle registrations, permits and fitness certification. These services formed the core of his assessment of how the office handles applications and meets public needs.
The review also covered applications processed through the SARATHI and VAHAN portals, alongside the volume of work awaiting disposal. Looking at both digital processing and office administration placed attention on the full service process, rather than online submission alone.
For applicants, submitting a form isn't the same as receiving a licence, registration document or permit. The emphasis on pending applications therefore addressed a practical concern: whether requests are moving towards completion after entering the system.
No numerical breakdown of outstanding applications or service completion rates accompanied the account of the visit. The review instead centred on identifying pendency, assessing progress and directing officials to improve delivery across the services examined.
Public Services Guarantee Act Frames Timeliness Directions
Qazi Irfan instructed officers and officials to dispose of applications on time in accordance with the Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act. He linked administrative efficiency with accountability, making statutory service obligations a central part of the inspection.
Residents shouldn't have to make repeated visits or endure unnecessary delays to obtain services, he stressed. That direction put the applicant's experience alongside the office's administrative workload, rather than treating disposal figures as the only measure of performance.
At the Bandipora ARTO office, the review went beyond speed. Qazi Irfan also called for transparency, proper maintenance of records and behaviour that makes the office accessible and responsive to the public.
These requirements work together: records help officials track applications, while regular scrutiny of pending cases helps keep unfinished work in view. But the immediate instruction was straightforward. Staff were asked to deliver services within the law's provisions without sending residents back unnecessarily for assistance.
Road Safety and Traffic Compliance Receive Attention
Alongside service delivery, Qazi Irfan called for intensified enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules. He placed particular emphasis on road safety and compliance with traffic regulations, bringing the department's regulatory responsibilities into the review.
The visit therefore covered two sides of transport administration: issuing documents and ensuring that vehicle use follows the law. Licences, permits, registrations and fitness certification were examined as public services, while enforcement was addressed through the direction to strengthen compliance.
No specific enforcement operation, inspection schedule or penalty figures were detailed. The instruction was broader, asking officials to give greater attention to the legal framework governing vehicles and traffic.
Road safety wasn't presented as separate from the office's everyday duties. By including it in the same assessment as application processing and record maintenance, the RTO made clear that service efficiency and enforcement both belong within the office's responsibilities to people across the district and its transport system.
Mukhtar Ahmad Briefs RTO on Grievances and Pendency
ARTO Bandipora, Mukhtar Ahmad briefed Qazi Irfan on the office's functioning, disposal of public grievances and outstanding applications. He also outlined steps taken to improve service delivery, giving the visiting officer an account of administrative work and efforts to address applicants' concerns.
The briefing brought grievance handling into the assessment alongside routine applications. The RTO's directions on conduct, transparency and avoiding repeat visits addressed the public-facing side of that work, while monitoring pending cases remained an administrative priority.
Qazi Irfan appreciated the efforts of Mukhtar Ahmad and his team. He urged them to maintain dedication and professionalism while providing transparent, efficient and hassle-free transport services to the people of District Bandipora.
The directions leave the Bandipora ARTO office with priorities: monitor unfinished applications, maintain records, respond to grievances and meet statutory timelines. Their practical test will be whether residents can obtain transport services without avoidable delays or repeated journeys to the office.
Originally reported by Rising Kashmir.