Team Herald
MARGAO: Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Road Transport Office in Arlem on Thursday over the various problems connected to the fixing of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).
On Thursday, a large number of locals, including women and senior citizens were forced to wait in the hot son for over four hours. This led to Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai visiting the RTO office and taking up the matter with the authorities after hearing out the grievances of the locals standing in queue.
“The people today are suffering due to the lack of clarity in the entire process of HSRP fitment. The government is not applying its mind and being careless towards the people of Salcete who are forced to stand in the hot sun for the fitment. The government should first have clarity on what the HSRP is,” said Vijai, while claiming that the RTO officials were in the dark over the MoRTH 2019 notification amending MV Rules.
After carrying out an inspection of the work in progress, Vijai, while criticising the manner in which the work was being carried out, demanded that ten counters be placed for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities amongst others. He also demanded that drinking water be provided. He also called for provisions to be made to allow Quepem vehicle owners to get their HSRPs fit in Quepem itself.
“Till then suspend the operations of the fitment of number plates. If they don’t do that, then our Goa Forward Workers will come and picket the office of the contractor who is fitting number plates. “It is clearly a scam. What security is it providing? What kind of Goenkarponn is this promoted by the Chief Minister”, said Vijai, while blaming the ‘UP contractor for creating chaos and harassing Goemkars’ and castigating the ‘callous government for remaining a mute spectator’.
