K'taka transport dept targets Rs 1250 crore revenue

Buoyed by increased collection of revenues, the transport department of Karnataka has effected an upward revision in the target -- Rs 1,250 crore -- for the fiscal 2006-07. Earlier, the government had set a target of Rs 1,160 crore revenue for the current fiscal.

"Due to effective enforcement of rules, we were able to mop up Rs 513 crore revenue during the first five months of this fiscal. We are confident of reaching Rs 1,250 crore by the end of the financial year," Karnataka's transport minister N Cheluvarayaswamy told reporters here on Wednesday.

Against a target of Rs 970 crore in 2005-06, the department earned Rs 1,087 crore revenue. The minister attributed the improvement in revenue also to the increase in the number of registration of new vehicles. On an average, 250 vehicles (all categories) are registered in Bangalore alone.

"Besides, collection of penalties, road permit fee and transport fee have improved. The surplus revenue will be utilised to improve the infrastructure of the transport department for effective functioning," he added.

The department has initiated computerisation of all the 54 offices of the Regional Transport Authority.

"This year, Rs 10 crore has been released for the purpose. We intend to connect all the offices by year end," Cheluvarayaswamy stated.