RTOs to be off-limits for middlemen

By Our Staff Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 20. The Transport Minister, Mr. C.R.Sageer Ahmed, said here on Wednesday that middlemen, who exploit public, will not be allowed on the premises of regional transport offices (RTOs) in the State.

The minister's decision seems to have been based on the tendency among people to seek the help of touts in getting their work done at RTOs rather than on the alleged nexus between Transport Department officials and the latter.

Mr. Ahmed made the announcement, often made by successive transport ministers, while speaking to presspersons after visiting the RTO (North) at Yeshwanthpur in the City.

He did not say whether action would be taken to prevent touts from operating outside the RTOs also and against the department officials, who allegedly encourage them.

He said the department had not been receiving complaints from people against touts, and it was the Press which was making an issue out of it. If he or the Transport Commissioner's office received complaints, action would be taken against the guilty.

Mr. Ahmed urged the public not to approach middlemen, and asked them to seek help from the officials concerned. People did not want to wait and was ready to pay touts for getting their work done without delay.

He said the Citizen's Charter, released by the department, listing the duties and powers of its officials, was available at the RTOs free of cost, and urged people to get themselves acquainted with the functioning of the department.

When told about the illegal operations of maxi cabs in the City and elsewhere, he said when he proposed to ban them in Bangalore, the Press criticised the move. However, the department was planning to restrict the practice by providing alternative transport facilities, he added.

Mr. Ahmed visited various sections of the office. A Regional Transport Officer felt that the application formats confused the people, making them approach middlemen. Once the RTOs were computerised, applications could be downloaded from the Internet, he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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