RTI query exposes East RTO’s move against touts

Times of India: Nagpur: Saturday, 12 December 2015.

Functioning of deputy east Nagpur Regional Transport Office (RTO) has once again come under scanner this time it has admitted that it does not have facility for recording footage from the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed on its premises to keep watch on touts.

The revelation, which has exposed corruption in RTO (East), came to light when Amul Sakure, president of Sangharsh Nagrik Manch, sought information under RTI Act regarding CCTV installations at the office.

According to sources, around 1,000 people visit the RTO daily and most are harassed by touts. In order to address this issue, office in-charge and deputy RTO Ravindra Bhuyar took initiative to install CCTV cameras at all necessary points, including windows and learner's licence test room.

Initially, the move forced the touts to move out of the east RTO building. "But now they can be seen roaming freely on the premises," said Sakure, who also runs a driving school and frequently visits the office for various works.

Sakure sought information for total expenditure incurred for CCTV installation, rate quotations, photocopy of the bill provided by the company, etc, and also requested to provide the CD of the recordings. The transport office failed to provide satisfactory answers.

According to Sakure, the office actually denied to provide some specific information like CCTV footages of learners' test room from November 2, 2015, to November 7, 2015. Sakure alleged that RTO (East) was deliberately not providing information and trying to protect corrupt officials. "We had requested for information under five questions out of which they had provided answer to only two questions and the remaining were answered incorrectly," he stated this in a complaint submitted to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In its reply, the transport office only stated that six CCTV cameras were installed at the cost of Rs19,427 while merely added 'information not available' for remaining questions.

Deputy RTO Ravindra Bhuyar said the office would never try to hide any information. "In fact, the office protects the rights of RTI applicant," he said and added that if the office has not provided Sakure any information he can go for appeal.