Sholinganallur RTO Office TN-14 (Chennai)

Sholinganallur is a southern suburb of Chennai, renowned as an IT hub with contemporary apartment complexes, sleek office buildings, and upscale restaurants. It stands as one of the most densely populated areas in Tamil Nadu. 

Sholinganallur RTO Office (TN-14) handles vehicle registrations, driver's licences, and various transport services in the Sholinganallur region of Chennai. It plays a vital role in ensuring road safety by enforcing traffic rules and regulations while providing essential public services. 

Keep reading to learn more about the services offered by the Sholinganallur RTO, fees, fines, and the latest updates on traffic regulations. 

Here are the Services Offered by Sholinganallur RTO (TN-14) 

1. Vehicle Registration

Vehicle registration is crucial for both new and pre-owned cars. The Sholinganallur RTO Office gives following services for vehicle registration:

• New Vehicle Registration: All personal and commercial vehicles must be registered with the RTO. After registration, a Registration Certificate (RC) is provided, which remains valid for 15 years for personal vehicles and 2 years for commercial vehicles.
• Temporary and Permanent Registration: Temporary registrations, usually issued by car dealers, are valid for up to one month. Vehicle owners must apply for permanent registration within this period.
• Transfer of Ownership:  If a used vehicle is sold or purchased, the RTO facilitates the transfer of ownership, ensuring that the RC is updated accordingly.
• Renewal of Registration: Once the validity of the initial registration expires, vehicle owners must renew their RC to continue using the vehicle legally.

2. Driving Licences

The Sholinganallur RTO Office manages and issues different types of driving licences, including:

• Learner’s Licence: First-time drivers are issued a licence after passing a traffic rules exam.
• Permanent Driving Licence: After 30 days with a learner's licence, individuals can apply for a permanent driving licence, which is given following a practical driving test.
• Renewal of Driving Licence: Driving licences must be renewed every 20 years or when the person reaches 50 years of age.
• International Driving Permit (IDP): This is provided to individuals who wish to drive a vehicle in a foreign country and is valid for a year.
• Duplicate Driving Licence: If your original licence is lost or destroyed, you can acquire a duplicate.
• Licence Endorsements and Upgrades: Drivers can update their licences to include other vehicle classifications, such as commercial vehicle licences.

3. Vehicle Permits

For commercial vehicle operators, the Sholinganallur RTO Office provides:

• Commercial Vehicle Permits: Mandatory for taxis, buses, and trucks operating on state or interstate routes.
• Temporary and National Permits: Temporary permits are intended for short-term use, whereas national permits are necessary for interstate transportation services.

4. Road Tax Collection

The Sholinganallur RTO Office collects the following road taxes based on the vehicle type:

• Lifetime Road Tax: For personal automobiles, the fee is paid during registration.
• Annual Road Tax: Commercial vehicles are charged annually based on their size and use.

5. Fitness Certificate for Vehicles

Commercial vehicles must obtain a vehicle fitness certificate to ensure roadworthiness. The RTO offers:

• Issuance and Renewal of Fitness Certificate: These certificates are issued after a thorough inspection and are valid for a limited period, depending on the vehicle type.

6. Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

It is mandatory for vehicles to have a valid PUC certificate to meet emission standards:

• Issuance of PUC: Issued after a vehicle passes an emission test, ensuring it adheres to environmental regulations.

7. No Objection Certificate (NOC)

The RTO provides NOC for vehicle owners looking to transfer their vehicle to another state or RTO jurisdiction:

• Transfer to Another State: NOCs are essential for legally registering vehicles in a new state.
• Inter-RTO Transfer: Required when moving a vehicle to a different RTO jurisdiction within the same state.

8. Hypothecation Services

For vehicles bought on loan, the RTO handles hypothecation related services:

• Addition of Hypothecation: The financier’s details are recorded in the RC when a vehicle is financed.
• Removal of Hypothecation: After the loan is repaid, the financier’s details can be removed from the RC.

9. Enforcement and Road Safety Measures

The RTO enforces road safety laws and conducts:

• Enforcement of Traffic Laws: Monitoring and penalising violations such as overspeeding, drunken driving, etc.
• Road Safety Awareness Programs: The RTO conducts awareness initiatives to educate the public about traffic rules and safe driving practices.

The Sholinganallur RTO Office provides services that guarantee effective transportation, vehicle regulation, and road safety management in the region.

The Sholinganallur RTO offers various types of driving licences. They are : 

Learner’s Licence

A Learner’s Licence is the first step for one who would like to drive legally at the Sholinganallur RTO. It is a temporary permit allowing beginners to practise driving supervision. 

To be eligible, candidates have to pass a basic road rules and traffic signs test at the RTO. This licence is only applicable for a limited amount of time and is a must if you want to secure your permanent licence. 

Permanent Driving Licence

Sholinganallur RTO offers Permanent Driving Licence after the learner's phase. When the learner has sufficient driving experience and has held the Learner's Licence for an appropriate length of time, they are able to pass a practical driving test at the RTO. 

Once they pass the test, the RTO gives them a permanent licence, which allows them to drive on their own. 

International Driving Licence

An International Driving Licence is also provided by the Sholinganallur RTO for those who are planning to drive abroad. In order to apply for it, applicants must have an Indian valid driving licence and complete the required documentation at the RTO.

Commercial Driving Licence

The Sholinganallur RTO also handles the issuance of Commercial Driving Licences (CDL) for those looking to drive commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, or taxis. 

To operate these larger, more complex vehicles, applicants must undergo specialised training and pass a rigorous driving test. Anybody who wishes to pursue a career in commercial transport needs this licence. 

As per the Motor Vehicle Act of India, vehicle registration is mandatory in any part of the country. Therefore, the Sholinganallur RTO offers two types of vehicle registration to its citizens:

1. Permanent Registration

This is the mandatory registration of a vehicle if it’s going to be used on public roads. It has a unique registration number, which lasts for a fixed period. 

2. Temporary Registration

This short-term registration is provided to a new vehicle owner for one month who has yet to register his vehicle permanently. Once the permanent registration is complete, the vehicle can be legally driven for a limited period of time. 

After all the applicants' documents have been verified by the officials, a unique registration number is issued to distinguish a vehicle from others. As a result, it is essential for everyone to have either a physical or digital copy of this document when driving. 

The citizens of Tamil Nadu can face penalties for breaking traffic rules as per the prescribed traffic fines in Chennai's Sholinganallur. Here are some of the commonly occurring traffic fines in Sholinganallur:

• Driving Without a Licence: ₹5000 
• Driving Without a Valid Permit: ₹5000 
• Drunk Driving: ₹10000 and/or six months in jail and ₹15000 and/or two years in jail for repetitive violation
• Disobeying Orders of Traffic Police: ₹2000 
• Driving Oversized Vehicle: ₹5000
• Violating Licence Conditions: ₹25000 to ₹1 Lakh
• Riding With No Helmet: ₹1000 + licence cancellation for 3 months
• Rash Driving: ₹5000
• Juvenile Driving Offences: ₹25000 + up to 3 years in jail
• Over-Boarding on Two-wheelers: ₹2000 + licence cancellation for 3 months
• Driving Vehicles After Licence Cancellation: ₹5000

Motor insurance is required when driving in any city, state, or Union Territory of India. If caught driving without insurance for the first time, the individual will be subject to a penalty of ₹2000. This penalty increases to ₹4000 for repeat offences.

To register your vehicle at the Sholinganallur RTO Office, the following documents are required:

• Form 20: Application form for motor vehicle registration
• Form 21: Sale certificate provided by the dealer or manufacturer
• Form 22: Certificate of roadworthiness from the manufacturer
• Insurance Certificate: Proof of valid vehicle insurance
• Proof of Address: A government-issued document such as an Aadhaar card, passport, or utility bill
• Proof of Identity: Passport, PAN card, or voter ID
• Temporary Registration: Issued by the dealer
• Invoice: Original dealer invoice
• Passport Size Photographs: Two recent passport photos
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate: Valid emission certificate
• Tax Payment Receipt: Confirmation of road tax payment
• Form 34: Required if the vehicle is financed (hypothecation)

The traffic plan at Sholinganallur junction has been modified to introduce traffic flow. Vehicles coming from Medavakkam can take a left turn on Rajiv Gandhi Salai and then a right turn at Sholinganallur Junction towards Navalur.

Work has started on the Chennai Metro, which is the Sholinganallur-Siruseri stretch. It is part of Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s (CMRL) Phase II expansion project, a new metro line that is expected to improve connectivity in the developing southern suburbs.

To reduce vehicular congestion, traffic diversions through a portion of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have been put in place. Vehicles travelling from Medavakkam to East Coast Road (ECR) can take a direct route once the Sholinganallur traffic signal is crossed.

The barricades at Sholinganallur Junction on OMR have been reinstalled making it an all way stop. At the junction, all vehicles that approach from all approach roads must halt at the signal before continuing. 

The campaign, which was hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety at IIT Madras in association with Greater Chennai Traffic Police, has been developed to achieve zero road accidents and create a road safety awareness among drivers and a responsible driving among all the drivers.

To ease the Rajiv Gandhi Salai (Old Mamallapuram Road) traffic congestion, the Tambaram Police Commissionerate introduced modifications in traffic flow at the Sholinganallur junction.

These initiatives are part of continued efforts to improve road safety and lower the occurrence of accidents in the area.