Mangalore or Mangaluru is a port city in the state of Karnataka. It is situated on the west coast of India and is a popular tourist destination. It is one of the fastest developing cities which has become an educational, healthcare, industrial and also IT hub. This has attracted people from across India to work here. Moreover, five national highways pass through the city, including NH66 and NH75. 

All these have increased transport in this city. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Mangalore, with RTO code KA-19,  was formed to enforce transport-related laws in the city.

Mangalore RTO performs the following functions:

• Conducts vehicle fitness tests for issuing fitness certificates for vehicles.

• Issues No Objection Certificates (NOC) for vehicle registration in another state.

• Conducts driving tests for issuing driver’s licences

• Registration and renewal of the registration certificates of vehicles

• Issuing pollution certificates (PUC)

• Issues vehicle permits

• Issues International Driving Permit (IDP)

• Transfers ownership of vehicles

Various types of driving licences are issued by Mangalore RTO, these are as follows:

• Two-wheeler licence

• Licence for a motor vehicle without gears

• Licence for a motor vehicle with gears

• Licence for light motor vehicles for transport purposes

• Licence for light motor vehicles for non-transport purposes

• Heavy goods vehicle licence

• Heavy trailer licence

• Open licence for heavy passenger motor vehicles

Mangalore RTO provides two types of vehicle registrations:

• Temporary Registration

• Permanent Registration

The vehicle registration and other related charges at Mangalore RTO for various vehicles are listed below:

• Registration Charges: ₹600 for all cars

• Temporary Registration Charges: ₹1200- ₹1500

• Hypothecation Charges: ₹1500 

• Number plate Charges: ₹230- ₹400

• State Development Charges: ₹2000-₹4000

The fee of a duplication registration certificate is half the amount of the registration of the vehicle.

The road tax is collected by the state government through the regional transport offices in all cities. Mangalore RTO follows Karnataka Road Tax structure. Here are some of its highlights:

In Karnataka, the tax amount remains the same for both private and commercial vehicles.

Road Tax on Bikes:

• Less Than ₹5000: 10% of vehicle cost
• Between ₹5000-₹100000: 12% of vehicle cost
• Over ₹100000: 18% of vehicle cost

Road Tax on Four-wheelers:

• Less Than 5 lakhs: 13% of vehicle cost
• Between 5 lakhs- 10 lakhs: 14% of vehicle cost
• Between 10 lakhs- 20 lakhs: 17% of vehicle cost
• More Than 20 lakhs: 18% of vehicle cost

If you do not follow traffic rules, you will have to pay fines according to the offence you have committed. Currently, Mangalore RTO follows standards of traffic fines in Karnataka. Some of these are listed below:

• Racing on Public Roads: ₹5000

• Misbehaving with Traffic Police Officer: ₹2000

• Over speeding: ₹1000-₹2000

• Driving under influence: ₹10000

Yes, it is mandatory to have motor insurance when driving in any part of India. A third-party insurance policy is a compulsion for all vehicle owners in India. If you do not get your car insured and drive it on the road, you will have to pay a fine of ₹2000 for the first offence, and ₹4000, for the second time. 

Road accidents happen due to negligent driving, lack of knowledge of road safety and people who violate traffic rules. Additionally, the poor road conditions of a few highways connecting the port city to the other cities need to be rectified. 

• It takes ten hours to travel from Mangalore to Bengaluru instead of seven hours. A report suggests that the NH-75 is in a terrible condition which forces people to drive very slowly. Moreover, commercial activities in Bengaluru are much dependent on Mangalore and the time taken to travel is hampering all activities.

• A recent news report shows that due to reckless driving, a young life was lost. This accident happened when a reckless truck hit a twenty years old boy. The truck also hit another car damaging it completely. 

• Another report from January 2023 reveals that a car rammed into the driver before hitting an electric pole. This accident in Kolya took one life while injuring the other three. Locals protested for the late arrival of police at the site and also for not barricading the spot even after repeated requests.

Road awareness programs in Mangalore to reduce accidents are as follows:

• Valedictory Ceremony 

This campaign named the Valedictory ceremony on National Road Safety Week 2023 was held at Kadri Park in Mangalore. The ceremony included essay writing competitions for students along with the release of the traffic rules manual by South Mangalore traffic police.

• Mangalore Cyclothon 2023

WE R Cycling(WERC) organised a campaign named Hero Cycles Mangalore Cyclothon 2023. The rally was for people above eight years of age which included schoolchildren and also their parents. This rally aimed at making people aware of cycling and road safety.