The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Agent system in RTA to be revived

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Agent system in RTA to be revived

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, NOV. 10 . The Minister for Transport, S. Santhosh Reddy, has disclosed that the Government is willing to restore the agent system in the department and added that people need to be educated on the adverse effects of the system before that.

After laying the foundation for the Transport Bhavan to be built on two-and-a half acre site at Nagaram, on the outskirts of the town, here on Wednesday, he observed that the previous Government had taken drastic action to scrap the agent system rendering about 2,000 families unemployed.

Since the day the system was abolished, the travails of people approaching transport offices have been on the rise. The system used to be helpful to the common man to get their works done easily, he maintained.

Decision soon

Mr. Santhosh Reddy, however, hoped that the agent system would not bring a bad name to the department by exploiting people, instead of helping them in getting licence and paying tax on time.

The Government would take a policy decision soon to reintroduce the agent system after reforming it, he said and assured that if once the old system was brought back it would act transparently.

He said autorickshaw driving was also a respectable occupation and hence the autorickshaw drivers should not be looked down upon.

Helmets for safety

Helmets would be made compulsory and extended to other cities and towns in a phased manner.

Some people were against the Helmet Act and insisted on its removal, but in the interest of safety of the vehicle users it had to be brought about, he pointed out. He said 51 vacant motor vehicle inspector posts would be filled shortly.

Presiding over the meeting, the Rural Development Minister, D. Srinivas, said that autodriving provides employment to unemployed youth, therefore it should be respected.

He suggested autorickshaw drivers not to carry overload of passengers and not to mislead passengers.

Madhu Goud Yaskhi, MP, the ZP Chairman, G. Sadanandam, the Transport Commissioner, R.M. Gonela, and MLAs, E. Ravinder Reddy and G. Ganga Reddy, attended.

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