MUMBAI: For the first time in their history, RTOs across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai became "tout-free zones" on Monday. Each RTO has put in place a series of checks to allow only bona fide citizens to enter the premises and to keep agents and touts at bay. The situation, though, was tense with protests outside some RTOs, and police had to be deployed to rein in crowds.
One of the consequences of the new directive was that several driving schools did not turn up at RTOs with their regular batches of students for driving licence tests. While RTOs have issued notices to these schools, if they remain shut, licence aspirants will suffer.
Some of south Mumbai's car dealers, who get vehicles registered, too, did not turn up in protest at the Tardeo RTO.
Meanwhile, BMC authorities demolished a few illegal offices owned by RTO agents and touts on Monday. More demolitions are expected this week, said RTO sources.
The move to bar touts comes close on the heels of a directive issued by state transport commissioner Mahesh Zagade who threatened to act against his own staff if any agent was found doing business within RTO premises. He will also make surprise visits this week.
Zagade's rule has not gone down well with 3,000-odd agents who do business from shops, kiosks and tables outside RTO precincts. While they all shut shop on Monday, some demonstrated outside RTO gates. Auto and taxi unions joined in, in the evening. Thampy Kurien of Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union said, "Our members are also being stopped from entering RTO premises. This is uncalled for as they are not touts. We will meet Zagade on Tuesday and, if required, move court."
Auto union leader Shashank Rao said his union also plans to protest. "Our members helped commercial drivers fill forms and direct them to counters."
Regional transport officer B I Ajri told TOI: "We are serious about implementing the directive. We have also set up a helpdesk with two officers and a clerk who will assist citizens in filling forms and answering queries. Our premises saw huge crowds on Monday; 700-800 applications were processed."
Deputy RTO Subhash Pedamkar (Tardeo) said a huge posse of staffers was deployed at entry and exit points. "If we see an agent or tout trying to enter, we have a special squad to block them," he said and denied a law-and-order situation.
MMRTA secretary P G Bhalerao said now every visitor is being screened since touts pose as applicants and smuggle in a bunch of application forms.
An agent said, "This is our daily bread and butter and hundreds of agents will be rendered jobless. We are providing a service and in return accept a service fee. There is nothing illegal about our operations.."
One of the consequences of the new directive was that several driving schools did not turn up at RTOs with their regular batches of students for driving licence tests. While RTOs have issued notices to these schools, if they remain shut, licence aspirants will suffer.
Some of south Mumbai's car dealers, who get vehicles registered, too, did not turn up in protest at the Tardeo RTO.
Meanwhile, BMC authorities demolished a few illegal offices owned by RTO agents and touts on Monday. More demolitions are expected this week, said RTO sources.
The move to bar touts comes close on the heels of a directive issued by state transport commissioner Mahesh Zagade who threatened to act against his own staff if any agent was found doing business within RTO premises. He will also make surprise visits this week.
Zagade's rule has not gone down well with 3,000-odd agents who do business from shops, kiosks and tables outside RTO precincts. While they all shut shop on Monday, some demonstrated outside RTO gates. Auto and taxi unions joined in, in the evening. Thampy Kurien of Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union said, "Our members are also being stopped from entering RTO premises. This is uncalled for as they are not touts. We will meet Zagade on Tuesday and, if required, move court."
Auto union leader Shashank Rao said his union also plans to protest. "Our members helped commercial drivers fill forms and direct them to counters."
Regional transport officer B I Ajri told TOI: "We are serious about implementing the directive. We have also set up a helpdesk with two officers and a clerk who will assist citizens in filling forms and answering queries. Our premises saw huge crowds on Monday; 700-800 applications were processed."
Deputy RTO Subhash Pedamkar (Tardeo) said a huge posse of staffers was deployed at entry and exit points. "If we see an agent or tout trying to enter, we have a special squad to block them," he said and denied a law-and-order situation.
MMRTA secretary P G Bhalerao said now every visitor is being screened since touts pose as applicants and smuggle in a bunch of application forms.
An agent said, "This is our daily bread and butter and hundreds of agents will be rendered jobless. We are providing a service and in return accept a service fee. There is nothing illegal about our operations.."
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