Odisha Transport Authority Swings Into Action: No More Middlemen in RTOs From Oct 1

Bhubaneswar: Following the directives given by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to weed out middlemen and dalals from public offices, the State Transport Authority (STA) has swung into action and decided to ban them from all RTOs of the state from October 1.

The STA has introduced a slew of measures in order to ensure that the environment at RTOs is more people friendly with easier access to different services. Now the entry of agents and middlemen into RTOs will be banned and FIR would be lodged against them in the Police Station under section 188 of the IPC for violating this order, the STA said.

In a letter written to all Regional Transport Officers, Transport Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda has asked them to follow several steps in order to create friendly ambience at RTOs. Notice should be displayed prohibiting agents/middlemen to enter into the office premises and testing tracks. In case an agent/middleman is found loitering outside the premises, local Police should be informed for necessary action.

All the temporary huts/sheds erected inside the office premises or on the side of boundary wall on government land needs to be dismantled with the help of local authority, the letter said. The Transport Commissioner has also urged officials to instruct their office staff and personnel engaged through service providers and Smart Chip Ltd not to entertain any agent/middlemen both inside the office premises and outside for any official work.

All the personnel working in RTOs should be provided with ID Cards of different colors – Blue Band for Government Employees, Green Band for Employees engaged by the service provider and Yellow Band for Employees of Smart Chip Ltd.

There should be large signboards or wall paintings showing different services provided by the RTO with the applicable rate chart. Besides, e-KISOK should be installed in all RTO Offices, if not installed so far for the convenience of the public. Student volunteers can also be deployed to provide assistance to the public, the order said.  According to the directive, CCTVs may be installed inside the RTO office and premises and help desk may be strengthened to provide assistance to the public. In case of any threat or disturbances from middlemen or agents, the local S.P. may be contacted for Police Assistance. Awareness message may be displayed for public to contact only authorized officials of RTO offices and not to come through any middleman or agent, the letter added.