Sholinganallur is a southern neighbourhood of Chennai, also known as an IT hub with modern apartment complexes, sleek offices and upscale restaurants. It is one of the most populous cities in Tamil Nadu. 

Sholinganallur has one RTO (TN-14) near Sholinganallur Main Signal that functions under section 213(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Besides, it keeps a database of all the vehicles registered in this city.

The primary functions of Sholinganallur RTO include the following:

• Regulate traffic rules of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways 

• Issue and renew driving licence

• Issue and carry vehicle RC renewal

• Take charge of vehicle inspection

• Transfer vehicle ownership

• Provide motor vehicle permits

• Collect motor vehicle taxes

• Conduct vehicle fitness tests and grant PUC certificates

• Conduct traffic awareness campaigns

There are different types of driving licence that Sholinganallur RTO offers: 

• Learners’ Licence

• Permanent Driving Licence

• International Driving Licence

• Commercial Driving Licence

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

• Permanent Registration

• Temporary Registration 

Once the officials verify all the applicants' documents, they issue a unique registration number to distinguish a vehicle from others. In this regard, everyone must carry a hard or soft copy of this document whenever driving.

The primary functions of Sholinganallur RTO include the following:

• Regulate traffic rules of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways 

• Issue and renew driving licence

• Issue and carry vehicle RC renewal

• Take charge of vehicle inspection

• Transfer vehicle ownership

• Provide motor vehicle permits

• Collect motor vehicle taxes

• Conduct vehicle fitness tests and grant PUC certificates

• Conduct traffic awareness campaigns

The primary functions of Sholinganallur RTO include the following:

• Regulate traffic rules of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways 

• Issue and renew driving licence

• Issue and carry vehicle RC renewal

• Take charge of vehicle inspection

• Transfer vehicle ownership

• Provide motor vehicle permits

• Collect motor vehicle taxes

• Conduct vehicle fitness tests and grant PUC certificates

• Conduct traffic awareness campaigns

Sholinganallur RTO levies road taxes depending on the cost of the vehicle, engine capacity and other factors according to the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Taxation Act of 1974. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu road tax that Sholinganallur follows are:

Two-Wheelers:

• Vehicles Not Older Than 1 Year: 7.75% 

• Between 1 to 5 Years: 7.5% to 6.75% 

• Between 5 to 11 Years: 6.5% to 5.25% 

• Above 11 Years: 5%

Four-Wheelers:

• Vehicles Not Older Than 1 Year: 8.75% (under ₹10 Lakhs) and 13.75% (over ₹10 Lakhs)

• Between 1 to 5 Years: 8.5% to 7.75% (under ₹10 Lakhs) and 13.5% to 12.75% (above ₹10 Lakhs)

• Between 5 to 11 Years: 7.5% to 6.25% (under ₹10 Lakhs) and 12.5% to 11.25% (above ₹10 Lakhs)

• Above 11 Years: 6% (under ₹10 Lakhs) and 11% (over ₹10 Lakhs)

Commercial Vehicles:

• Weight Below 3000 Kg: ₹600

• Between 3000 Kg to 9000 Kg: ₹950 to ₹1500

• Between 9000 Kg to 15000 Kg: ₹1900 to ₹2500

• Above 15000 Kg: ₹2300 + ₹50 per 250 Kg exceeding 15000 Kg

Various types of charges are taken along with the road tax during vehicle registration. Here are the charges Sholinganallur RTO applies: 

• Number Plate Charges: ₹230 to ₹400 (same for HSRP Number Plate)

• Registration Charges: ₹600 (for all cars)

• Temporary Registration Charges (for one month): ₹1200 to ₹1500

• Hypothecation Charges: ₹1500 (if purchased on loan)

• FasTag Charges: Between ₹500 to ₹600 (while purchasing a vehicle)

• State Development Charges/Parking Fee: ₹2000 (cars under ₹4 Lakhs) to ₹4000 (cars above ₹4 Lakhs)

The state of Tamil Nadu penalises citizens for violating traffic rules under the provisions of the set traffic fines of Chennai in Sholinganallur. Some of the most occurring traffic fines in Sholinganallur are as follows: 

• 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

Yes, it is mandatory to carry motor insurance whenever or wherever driving in any city, state or Union Territories of India. A person is liable to pay a ₹2000 penalty for not carrying insurance while driving for the first time. In addition, the fine will become ₹4000 if that person repeats the same offence.

Urbanisation and increased motorisation resulted in an unprecedented rate of road accidents in many cities, including Sholinganallur. According to a report, a 22 years old motorcyclist hit a car and was killed on the spot at Sholinganallur junction. 

Another report suggests that the officials have passed tenders to widen East Coast Road (ECR) along Injambakkam, Neelankarai and Sholinganallur. The tender costs around 104.81 crores.

To introduce road safety, Thozan, a city-based NGO, conducted a road safety awareness campaign in Chennai across 73 parks, including Kumaraswamy Layout and Sholinganallur. 

Another report confirms Shankar Jiwal, City police commissioner of Chennai, inaugurated the ‘no honking’ awareness campaign for a week. Their primary objective was to reduce noise pollution by spreading awareness among motorists and vehicle owners.