HYDERABAD: A signboard put up at the parking lot of the Road Transport Authority (RTA) head office in Khairatabad directs public to contact the helpdesk and to not approach any middleman for any RTA related work. But it seems that the RTA’s efforts by moving 59 of its services online to get rid of paperwork and touts is having little impact.
“So what if you apply online? You still have to come to me to get your papers approved,” says Riyaz (name changed), a tout within the RTA premises here, which is also the office of Telangana transport commissioner Sandeep Kuman Sultania. The rate charged by the tout for getting the paperwork done, after one has filed an application online, is said to be around Rs 1,500.
“I need to pay everyone at the RTO including the supervisor and then I will keep a little for myself,” claimed Riyaz.
An owner of a modified vehicle from another state who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “I pay anywhere around `30,000 as bribe.” The owner, after applying online, still had to take the service of a tout to get the necessary documents. “If I go the proper way they will make me run around and I don’t have the time for that,” he added.
When contacted, joint transport commissioner (JTC) of Hyderabad, T Ragunath maintained that no cash transaction is being done physically at the offices.
“After getting the code there is no need to give papers to any tout. Once you have paid the fees, booked the slots online, the formalities are complete. These people are just propagating an old idea. You just come directly once, say you have paid online and no one will ask you for extra cash,” the JTC claimed.
“I don’t know why they charge such a huge amount. People shouldn’t go to touts and tell the RTA employees to do our work,” he said. “People should ask questions. Only then this will stop. If any official is asking bribe, give us the names,” Ragunath added.