Against 273 AMVI posts, only 123 officers working in Andhra transport department: RTI reply
The revelations have put a question mark over the functioning of the transport department and road safety enforcement
By - Sri Lakshmi Muttevi
File Photo
Amaravati: An RTI reply has revealed a severe shortage of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors (AMVIs) in Andhra Pradesh.
The revelations have put a question mark over the functioning of the transport department and road safety enforcement.
The application was filed by Sashi Kumar of Hyderabad
According to the information furnished under the RTI, out of a total sanctioned strength of 273 AMVI posts across the State’s 26 districts, only 123 officers are currently working. This highlights that more than half of the sanctioned posts remain vacant.
The applicant had sought comprehensive details on the sanctioned and working strength of AMVIs, with a district-wise breakup for all 26 districts and a separate account for the Transport Department Head Office. He also requested information on the total number of vacancies as of the date and whether any recruitment proposals had been initiated to fill the vacant posts through direct recruitment.
The data revealed stark regional disparities. While Visakhapatnam has the highest number of AMVIs with 15 officers in position, there are currently no AMVIs working in the Srikakulam district. Alluri Sitaramaraju district has just one AMVI.
The low number of working AMVIs across the State points to serious gaps in enforcement and monitoring within the Transport Department.
AMVIs play a crucial role in ensuring road safety by inspecting vehicles for compliance with transport laws, checking technical aspects such as brakes and emission levels, verifying documents including registration certificates, insurance, and pollution-under-control certificates, and assisting Motor Vehicle Inspectors. They are also responsible for issuing fitness and registration certificates, maintaining records, and supporting the enforcement of traffic regulations.
The revelations come in the backdrop of a series of fatal road accidents in the State. The most recent incident occurred about a week ago in the Alluri Sitaramaraju district, where nine people were killed and several others injured after a bus carrying 35 passengers plunged into a ravine while negotiating a sharp curve on a ghat road.
The RTI applicant has also sought certified copies of the “note file” and “current file” related to the latest AMVI recruitment proposals, including internal notes, approvals, objections, and correspondence with the Government, Finance Department, and the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), to understand the administrative decision-making process.
However, it was revealed that no recruitment file is currently under process to fill the existing AMVI vacancies. The only recent move dates back to 2024, when the Transport Commissioner had addressed a letter to the Government seeking permission to fill 110 vacant AMVI posts.
