It is paid leave for Gandhinagar RTO staff after internet service conked off

A working day turned out to be a holiday for staffers at Gandhinagar RTO after the internet service conked off, resulting in no work being carried out on Tuesday. Visitors for fresh licenses, renewal applications, registration of new vehicles and for other services were turned away. A notice pasted outside the office of assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) stated that no work will be carried out for the day as there was no G-Swan (internet) network.

The RTO in the capital receives at least 250 applications for various services on a given day. While the RTO blamed it on internet service provider BSNL, the telecom company claimed it was restored in a few hours. But an entire day’s work was lost for applicants from across Gandhinagar district who had to return home empty-handed.

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Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN) provides connectivity to server through wide area network with internet service being provided by BSNL. With the RTO linked to a central server, in case of internet failure, no work can be carried out.

Mirror visited the RTO office in the capital twice at 12 noon and 1.45pm, at both times it wore deserted look. Operators were sitting in the corner chatting away. ARTO D M Patel had regular visitors over tea and biscuits with leisurely discussions. Patel confirmed, “There is no internet available as there is some issue with BSNL line. We are not able to process any application or carry out routine work. This is the first time I have experienced such an issue in over a year that I have been here.”

However, he claimed that his office did some work. “We delivered a few licenses and documents using mobile internet but could not do the same throughout the day.”

On the other hand, BSNL officials claimed it was a minor issue. When Mirror contacted General Manager (Enterprise Businesses) Ashish Thaker, he was not aware of the issue and called the technical head J S Patel. Patel said, “There is no major issue, a wire near Adalaj is broken so internet service has stopped in a few sectors and villages of Gandhinagar. About 4 to 5 connections are facing issues between Adalaj and RTO office.” The distance between Adalaj and Gandhinagar RTO is about 7 km.

Around 2 pm Patel confirmed that they had restored the connection, but when Mirror checked with the ARTO about it, he denied the internet connection was restored till the end of the day.

Rajendra Chavda of Vavol who works as sales manager in Gandhinagar had his day wasted.

“I was here to complete name transfer process of my car, but I learnt that it will not happen today because of internet issue. This spoils my day at work as well and I will have to come once again,” Chavda said.

Sector 6 resident Saumya Barot who is a new applicant too will have to return again. “I was here to get my new driving licence after skipping my tuition classes. But with no internet, I will have to come again. I wish they had made an alternative arrangement.”

Ashok Patel, resident of Koba who had gone to get his licence renewed said, “I came during opening hours of the office, so that I could finish the process and get back to my routine. But as soon as I reached here around 11am, I was told that there is no internet, so no work will be carried out.”

A notice outside the ARTO’s office read, “With G-Swan (Internet) network not available, no work will take place on July 31, 2018.”

However, sources attached to the office said, “There is some software upgrade being planned on August 1. Work in the office may have been hampered due to this.”