Baramulla, March 11: The Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) in Sopore in this north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is without its head, causing immense difficulties for vehicle owners.
The office has been headless for several months, following the transfer and promotion of the ARTO eight months ago. Since then, the authorities have failed to appoint a new head and have instead assigned additional responsibilities to ARTO Kupwara.
Residents of Baramulla and Sopore expressed frustration over delaying driving tests.
“The backlog of driving license applications and delayed driving tests have added to the frustration of the applicants,” Nadeem Wani, a resident of Noorbagh Sopore, told Rising Kashmir.
The transporters have been the worst hit, with some of them returning empty-handed in the absence of an ARTO.
Adil Ahmad, a local of Kanispora in Baramulla, said the delay in renewing vehicle documents due to the non-availability of the top official has been a major source of concern for the transporters.
“The employees at the office take advantage of the situation, thereby adding to our troubles,” he said.
The people have called upon the administration to immediately appoint the ARTO at the Sopore office to relieve the people of many blocks in Baramulla. The transport association said the headless ARTO in Baramulla has created a dire situation for the people.
