Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Officials draw flak for restrictions on RTA premises

Friends and family members of applicants for driving license and learner’s license are forced to stand in the sun to submit their applications

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: In a strange rule, strangers, friends and family members of applicants are not being allowed to enter the office of the Regional Transport Authority in Asifabad for the last few days. They are forced to stand in the sun due to restrictions on entry onto the premises of the office.

The office of the RTA registers scores of registrations of new vehicles and issues driving and learner’s licenses to applicants every day. It also issues fitness, transfer of certificates and registration of various vehicles. It conducts online tests for applicants of driving license and driving tests for applicants of driving licenses.

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Friends and family members of applicants for driving license and learner’s license are forced to stand in the sun to submit their applications. Some of them are carrying an umbrella and a water bottle following restrictions to enter the office of the RTA. Only those who pay challans are allowed to enter the premises.

Similarly, owners of new vehicle registrations, those coming for renewal of registrations of existing vehicles, fitness certificates, transfer of registrations and other services are left with no option but to wait for their turn in the sun for a long time. Their applications are being processed only in the afternoon. Those who point out this practice are reportedly drawing the ire of the officials.

“I had to stand in sunny weather for about two hours to submit applications for registration of my new vehicle,” Prasad, an applicant, complained. Many applicants regretted that they were facing inconvenience in visiting the office due to restrictions on entry. They requested the officials to lift the curbs and to ensure some shade and drinking water facility outside the office.

Meanwhile, RTA officials are drawing flak for issuing driving licenses and registrations of vehicles by reportedly accepting bribes through certain brokers from the applicants even as the government introduced an online system a few years ago.

They are also receiving criticism for not imposing fines against vehicles carrying an overload of goods than permitted in Kaghaznagar and on NH 363.

When asked, District Transport Officer Ramachandram said steps would be taken to prevent inconvenience to applicants. He said restrictions were imposed on entry to the public to avoid nuisance to be created by friends and family members of the applicants by clicking photographs and recording videos of the staffers.