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Speed post delivery of cards by the RTA a hogwash
Speed Post Delivery of Cards By The RTA a Hogwash. In 2008, an order was issued by the Transport Commissioner for the delivery of licence, registration of vehicles, transfer of ownership, duplicate RC, cancellation of finance and hypothetication, No Objection Certificate and a variety of other services to be sent through speed post. But 80 per cent of the cards issued by the RTA are collected by applicants personally by paying Rs 100 and 150.
The Road Transport Authority (RTA) in Hyderabad is supposed to send key documents only through speed post. While the RTA collects Rs 35 towards Speed Post charges, most of the documents are collected by the applicants directly by paying a bribe which amounts to anywhere between Rs 100 and 150. Crores of rupees are unaccounted for as 80 per cent of the applicants collect the cards in person. Worse, the RTA authorities don’t seem to have an account for the money received through Speed Post
On an average, 3,600 cards are generated a day in all the RTA offices numbering 10 in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts but only about 800 cards are sent by post. In a month RTA offices are open for about 22 days. On an average about 2,800 cards are handed over directly to the applicants which means that 61,600 cards are not sent by post which translates into Rs 21,56,000 per month. Sivaram, a resident of Nagole, says, “This money is unaccounted and all employees in the RTA get a cut in each transaction.”
- No record of returns are kept and the remarks of the postman are not recorded.
- Photo copies of the card are sent by post and the original is given to the applicant by hand after receiving Rs 100.
- In all the RTA offices in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, 61,600 cards are generated per month that are not sent by post which translates into Rs 21,56,000 per month
- The RTA Complaints and Grievances Cell and dial service closed 10 years ago. The Joint Transport Commissioner and RTA secretary used to review complaints on Tuesdays
- RTA collects Rs 35 as Speed Postcharges. The postal dept collects Rs 17 for 40 gms for 40 kms. The RTA card weighs 10 gms. In addition to the Rs 17, another Rs 10 is collected towards delivery charges, this amounts to Rs 27. There is no audit of the remaining Rs 8 per card.
In 2008, an order was issued by the Transport Commissioner for the delivery of licence, registration of vehicles, transfer of ownership, duplicate RC, cancellation of finance and hypothetication, No Objection Certificate and a variety of other services to be sent through speed post. But 80 per cent of the cards issued by the RTA are collected by applicants personally by paying Rs 100 and 150.
The idea of introducing the delivery of cards through post was to ensure proper address proof and reduce the interface of middlemen and improve transparency and accountability. However, only a handful of cards are sent by Speed Postby the RTA offices in Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad. Crores of rupees are unaccounted for as 80 per cent of the applicants collect the cards by hand. Where is the money going? No one at the RTA offices seems to have an answer. When the Joint Transport Commissioner B Venkateshwarlu was asked about the anomaly, he said, “The respective officers need to check periodically.”
The RTA collects Rs 35 towards Speed Postcharges but in fact only Rs 27 is spent. The postal department collects Rs 17 per card and the RTA spends an additional Rs 10 towards delivery charges per card which amounts to Rs 27. There is no account of the remaining Rs 8. B Venkateshwarlu says, “The department will review the rates and it is for the government to decide.”
Officials at the RTA office acknowledge the fact that 80 per cent of applicants collect the cards by hand by paying a bribe of Rs 100-150. M Dayanand, organising secretary, Telangana State Auto & Trolly Drivers Union, says, “The very purpose of ‘speed post’ is defeated. It is a mockery of the rule. It was introduced to tackle fake applicants and fake addresses. 80 per cent of the cards are not sent to applicants but Rs 35 is being collected. Where is the money going?”
According to reliable sources at the Uppal Testing Track cum RTA Office, about 800 transactions take place daily but only 200 cards are sent by speed post. In Trimulgherry the average transactions per day is 350-400 but just 75-100 are sent by speed post. In Khairatabad Central Zone out of the 450 transactions only 100 cards are sent by speed post.
Murali, (name changed on request) at the Khairatabad office, says, “Several times the original is handed over to the person and a photocopy is sent just to show that the cards are being sent by post.”
On an average, 3,600 cards are generated a day in all the RTA offices numbering 10 in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts but only about 800 cards are sent by post. In a month RTA offices are open for about 22 days. On an average about 2,800 cards are handed over directly to the applicants which means that 61,600 cards are not sent by post which translates into Rs 21,56,000 per month. Sivaram, a resident of Nagole, says, “This money is unaccounted and all employees in the RTA get a cut in each transaction.”
Ramu, a resident of Medchal, says that 600 transactions take place at the Medchal Testing Track Office but just 150 cards are sent by post.
