MARGAO: The Road Transport Office (RTO) in Arlem, Goa, is in dire need of an infrastructure overhaul as the condition of the office premises has become a risk to both the staff and the public.
A visit to the RTO revealed that a large number of plastic crates and piles of scrap material have been discarded inside unused floors of the building. The rusted iron barricades and ceiling fans that had not been replaced for years are causing alarm among the staff, and wires hang limply from the ceiling and are strewn along the walls and partitions like streamers. In many places, the false ceiling is damaged, leaving gaping holes with insulation material hanging in some places, raising the possibility of it falling on the staff or visitors.
The power fluctuations in the building have also forced the repeated use of the generator, to avoid inconveniencing the public. Important documents are being exposed to dust and moisture because they are stored in old, damaged cupboard. In some places, sections of the roof have also been damaged.
Furthermore, the walls of the building on this floor have not been painted for years- even decades, perhaps, adding to the office’s gloomy atmosphere. Despite these circumstances, the officials seem uninterested in relocating, leaving the public to demand better infrastructure.
The Arlem office now functions as the central hub for all enforcement services, following the transportation services’ shift.
As a result, large numbers of people flock to the office daily, particularly those involved in transport businesses.
Peter Fernandes from Chandor, a frequent visitor to the office, expressed his disappointment with the authorities, stating that there is a significant risk to the staff, and that the ceiling fans and false ceiling should have been replaced a long time ago. He also pointed out that a fire in the office would pose a grave danger to everyone.
Pradeep Naik, a private bus driver, expressed his fears that critical documents would be destroyed due to the lack of adequate safety measures in place. He also voiced his disappointment with the dumping of scrap materials at the office entrance. “It is pathetic to see a government office functioning in such conditions,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, a staff member who requested anonymity disclosed that the employees are forced to work under perilous conditions. “The damaged roof poses a constant threat to our lives; the false ceiling is almost collapsing,” he pointed out.
