Online services at RTA offices remain a non starter

Online services at RTA offices remain a non starter
x
Highlights

Though it’s been two months since Telangana State Transport department started online services in all the RTA offices in the State, the implementation in Rangareddy and Hyderabad RTA offices has not taken off.

“The nexus between the agents and RTA staff is too strong. Online services can only be successful if the officials stop accepting applications by hand,” says an RTA official

Hyderabad: Though it’s been two months since Telangana State Transport department started online services in all the RTA offices in the State, the implementation in Rangareddy and Hyderabad RTA offices has not taken off. While online services have been successfully implemented in Mahbubnagar, Siddipet, Nizamabad and Sangareddy, online transactions are next to nil in the 11 RTA offices in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.

The online services are partly successful in Warangal, Adilabad, Karimnagar and Khammam. About 40 per cent of the transactions are conducted online. On Monday, there were just six online transactions in Uppal and two in Trimulgherry offices. Though the department started the online transactions to root out corruption by offering 18 services, the number of transactions in Rangareddy and Hyderabad RTA offices is still in single digits.

There has not been a single online transaction in transport vehicles segment. The officials at the RTA offices were not too keen to implement the online services as they would no longer be able to make money, says Raghavan, a senior citizen. M Dayanand, organising secretary, Telangana State Auto and Trolley Union says,

“The online services are totally successful in Mahbubnagar as the officials simply do not accept applications other than online. In Hyderabad and Rangareddy the officials aren’t interested.” While staff at the RTA offices accepts applications by hand, the auto unions too have not made an attempt to spread awareness among the auto drivers about the services.

The few online transactions that take place are because of well educated citizens who do not want to go through agents. The list of services that are to be offered online include transfer of ownership, duplicate registration, duplicate driving licence, no objection certificate, state and national permits for transport vehicles of tourist buses and lorries, taxes, change of name,

renewal of registration of vehicle (after 15 years), international driving permit, NOC from one state to another and one district to other, hypothecation of the vehicle and clearance certificate of driving licence.

Once the applicant completes the formalities online, he would receive an SMS about the date on which they should be present in their respective RTA office with originals for verification. The applicant would have to pay the fee in e-seva.

The nexus between the agents and RTA staff is too strong. Online services can only be successful if the officials stop accepting applications by hand but that would take a lot as close to 2,000 agents exert enough pressure, said an official at the Khairatabad RTA office.

Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT