16 June,2026 01:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. File Pic
The Maharashtra government has finalised the criteria for establishing new Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and Sub-Regional Transport Offices (SRTOs), a move aimed at improving access to transport-related services and addressing the growing administrative burden caused by the state's rising vehicle population.
The decision was announced by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik following the submission of a report by an expert committee appointed by the Transport Department. The government is currently in the process of granting in-principle approval to the committee's recommendations.
According to the Transport Department, new transport offices will be established based on factors such as vehicle population, human population, revenue generation, geographical distance and availability of infrastructure.
Under the proposed framework, a new office can be considered if the jurisdiction includes at least four talukas, has more than 500,000 registered vehicles, a population exceeding 700,000, and annual revenue of over â¹100 crore. Areas located more than 50 kilometres from an existing transport office will receive priority consideration.
The move is expected to reduce the need for residents of remote and rapidly urbanising regions to travel long distances for services such as vehicle registration, driving licences, vehicle inspections and tax-related transactions.
The department has also proposed alternative infrastructure in locations where establishing a full-fledged transport office may not be feasible. These include Automated Testing Stations (ATS) for vehicle inspections and Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTT) for driver testing.
Officials believe these facilities will help expand access to essential services while maintaining operational efficiency.
Speaking on the initiative, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said strengthening transport infrastructure has become necessary in view of the sharp increase in vehicle numbers across the state. He said the expansion would help reduce travel time, expenses and inconvenience for citizens seeking transport-related services.
The establishment of new regional and sub-regional offices is also expected to generate employment opportunities at the local level. Officials say the increased use of technology-driven facilities could improve transparency and efficiency in transport administration.
The proposed expansion is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening Maharashtra's transport service network and improving service delivery across the state.
