Concrete mixer operators protest outside Khairatabad RTO over heavy fines

Concrete mixer operators and construction workers staged a protest outside the Khairatabad RTO office against hefty penalties imposed on their vehicles. The demonstration, held during a Telangana bandh, led to a brief confrontation with police before the protesters eventually dispersed.

Hyderabad: Concrete mixer operators and construction workers staged a protest at the RTO office in Khairatabad on Tuesday, alleging that heavy penalties imposed by transport authorities were threatening their livelihoods.

The protest coincided with a Telangana bandh call given by the associations against what they described as excessive fines.

---

The protesters alleged that RTO officials, along with the police, had recently intensified enforcement against concrete mixer vehicles, imposing fines of up to Rs 25,000 per vehicle.

They accused the authorities of targeting them to meet enforcement goals while ignoring the hardships faced by workers in the construction sector.

Raising slogans against the RTO, the demonstrators laid siege to the office and demanded an immediate rollback of the penalties.

Tension prevailed after a heated argument broke out between the protesters and police personnel, who warned them against entering the premises without permission and asked them to disperse.

The protesters, however, refused to leave, insisting they would continue their agitation until their demands were addressed, leading to a tense situation outside the RTO office for some time before dispersing.