People flocking into the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) office to avail themselves of services related to vehicle registration and renewals have been an everyday scene for quite some time now leading to outcries of not getting tokens and long waiting time in the crowd amid the pandemic. However, with the opening of three temporary service stations in Thimphu starting today, all these issues will be resolved.
The initiative is to enable the renewal of Vehicle Registration Certificate and Road Worthiness Certificate or Fitness in line with COVID-19 norms.
The service stations are established at Dechencholing in the North, Changlingmithang parking in the centre and Lower Babesa Truck Parking in the South.
“There used to be too much crowd at the main office and many people failed to get a token. People then wrote on social media complaining that we give tokens to those people whom we know. People were getting offended when we followed COVID-19 protocols,” said Ugyen Norbu, the Officiating Director General of RSTA.
He said it will also reduce travelling from one place to another.
Vehicle owners have to register by calling 1010 facility to avail services from these centres. While the stations are opened from today, registrations began from yesterday.
“In the current situation, it is necessary for all of us to practice physical distancing. If we have to stay in the queue like before, there will be too much crowd. Earlier, we have to go to the RSTA office to avail services, now with the new substations, it is convenient for us,” said Sonam Wangdi, at Dechencholing in Thimphu.
According to RSTA officials, they will now start calling vehicle owners to come for renewal following their renewal date.
“When people hear about date extension for renewals by the RSTA, people tend to wait till the last moment. Thousands of people rush to the RSTA office just a few days before the last date. We extended twice last time. But the extension is not a solution. Therefore we have established these stations,” added Ugyen Norbu.
He said the sub-stations would be providing services only for two weeks after which vehicle owners have to bear the penalty for late renewals.
A notification by the RSTA states that starting, November 1, 2020, the renewals will resume with the regular late penalty fees.
Kinley Dem
