Bhawanipatna: A series of complaints have been lodged from time to time against the Regional Transport Office (RTO), at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district. The RTO, who is serving in the post for the past seven years, is alleged to have been involved in several irregularities, starting from the registration of vehicles and loads of other public services.
Few years back, the State Vigilance team of Bhawanipatna had raided this office as well as the residence of RTO. Even after the raids, the RTO was not transferred from his post raising many eyebrows.
Apparently, some incidents at the RTO office indicated gross irregularities. Intellectuals of this area have demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations.
Since the inception of RTO office here in 1972, about 33 RTOs have taken charge of office at different times. The joining and release dates of the previous RTOs suggest that each served in the post for two years to seven years. However, the incumbent RTO has been holding on to the post for seven years now.
The present RTO, Dinabandhu Sundhi joined the post April 18, 2011. This has raised doubts about his manipulative ways to continue in the post for such a long period.
It is alleged that the present RTO has been successful in concealing his misdeeds due to his prolonged period in office here. There are several allegations that Sundhi has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known source of income.
Locals here claim that a CBI inquiry into the allegations would reveal lots of irregularities. For instance, it is alleged that many people managed to obtain driving licenses by bribing the RTO officials. Some people, who don’t know driving at all or are capable of driving only light motor vehicles, have obtained licenses for heavy motor vehicles too.
At times, huge amounts of penalties are being collected on the pretext of checking vehicles. Vehicles without proper fitness certificates are not uncommon here. Hence, it is not surprising that they are also responsible for most of the road accidents here.
Commenting on the issue, Transport Minister, Nrusingha Charan Sahu said that, “I will look into the allegations”. On the issue of the RTO’s transfer, he added, “I have already written twice to the State government on this; but, no step has been taken so far”.
PNN