Despite digitalisation of 59 essential transactions of the Regional Transport Authority, touts continue to hold sway at these offices with active support of the staff.
In August 2016, the Transport Department launched the Automated Online Service to bring transparency in services and keep middlemen at bay. However, they continue to play a major role in all the RTOs across the State.
The collusion starts from the first step of slot booking to issuing of permanent licence and registration of vehicle to vehicle permit, due to lack of awareness on the online services among people.
Several applicants complain that some officers direct them to middlemen to get their work done in minutes without any hurdle or much paperwork.
For instance, at RTO office in Khairatabad, one can see dozens of agents ready with their laptops and smart phones to book the slot for applicants by charging anywhere between ₹50 and ₹200.
The touts provide the service much before the allotted date and time by managing the officer concerned.
When this correspondent approached a tout posing as a potential applicant for both two-wheeler and four-wheeler driving licence at Khairatabad RTO, claiming he cannot drive a car, the tout assured him to issue a permanent driving licence, if ₹10,000 was paid as ‘commission’.
“You just come and get yourself clicked before the computer and rest else can be managed, sir,” said the tout, adding that he is in constant touch with higher officials of the department to get the work done.
Recently, a 52-year-old applicant, Ramakrishna Rao (name changed), who visited an RTO office in the city for renewal of his driving licence, said that he paid ₹ 2,000 to a middlemen to get his work done.
“An officer at the help desk guided me to an agent and my work was done in just few minutes, without any medical fitness certificate, which is a mandatory document for renewal of licence,” he said.
When contacted, C. Ramesh, Joint Transport Commissioner, said that people should not approach agents in the RTO offices and get their work done directly through the officers. “The menace of touts at most of the offices had reduced due to the online services,” he said.
However, a senior transport officer admitted the fact that corruption is rampant and said that no system can curb it in the department. “Irregularities are deep-rooted in the department and will continue as long as touts grease the palms of officers,” he said.
