TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Is the Margao RTO hell bent in meting out harassment to motorists under the guise of enforcement?
This question has come to the fore with owners of heavy duty vehicles, including tipper trucks, complaining of harassment at the hands of RTO officials. Vehicle owners have claimed that vehicles caught violating traffic rules in and around the commercial capital are all taken to the Cuncolim police station ~ a distance of 15 km from Margao.
Outgoing Margao Municipal Chairperson Arthur D’Silva on Thursday became the latest victim when his tipper truck was taken to Cuncolim for violating traffic rules. “My truck was booked for the damaged tail lamp and other violations. I have no issue at all, but what is objectionable is the fact that the RTO official took my truck to Cuncolim police station,” Arthur told the media.
“I fail to understand why the RTO official had to take my truck to Cuncolim. I have lost a day of business because I had to shuttle between Cuncolim and Margao throughout the day to pay the challan and get the vehicle released,” he said.
Arthur has demanded to know why the RTO has not made any provision for towing away the vehicles to its offices at Arlem or at the SGPDA grounds, saying that vehicle owners cannot be penalised for the government’s failure to make available space at the RTO offices.
Assistant Director of Transport, Margao Sandeep Desai was not available for comments.
