If all goes as per the plan, the Deputy Regional Transport Office of Navi Mumbai is all set to start operation from its new office premises building in Nerul from January 10, 2024. The impending move comes after a meticulous six-month process of transferring office furniture, documents, files, and essential materials from the former APMC premises to the eagerly awaited new building.

Located at Plot 8 & 9, Sector 12 in Nerul, the upgraded RTO infrastructure is set to accommodate RTO-related operations, signalling a significant shift from the current facility.

The journey towards establishing this new office began nearly two decades ago in 2004 when the Dy RTO office in Navi Mumbai commenced its operations within the Agricultural Produce Market Committee's grain market buildings. Over time, with the exponential increase in the number of vehicles, the rented space proved inadequate. Additionally, the absence of essential amenities like a lift posed challenges for individuals with disabilities, elderly citizens, and pregnant women.

In 2014, efforts were set in motion by the then Deputy Regional Transport Officer Sanjay Dhaygude and Assistant Deputy Regional Transport Officer Dyaneshwar Modak to secure a plot from CIDCO for a dedicated office space. Despite encountering technical hurdles, a plot at Sector 12 was allocated by CIDCO. However, intermittent halts, including the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, temporarily stalled progress until construction finally resumed in 2021.

The completion of the new RTO building by the Public Works Department in August 2023 marked a significant milestone. Nonetheless, concerns about the safety of the existing office, compounded by incidents of slab plaster falling, hastened the urgency for the new building's inauguration.

Social activists, including Nilesh Kachare, district president of Navi Mumbai Swarajya Party, Umesh Junghare, and Navi Mumbai Congress spokesperson Ravindra Sawant, vociferously advocated for the inauguration of the new office. Nilesh Kachare specifically highlighted the dilapidated state of the current office in communications with the relevant authorities, pressing for swift action.

Hemagini Patil, Dy RTO Navi Mumbai, emphasized the ongoing inspection survey of the building due to the observed damages, affirming discussions with senior officials regarding the timely shift to the new office premises.