Nagpur RTO installs CCTV cameras to drive away touts

NAGPUR: The Nagpur city Regional Transport Office (RTO) is now under surveillance with six closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on its premises to keep watch on touts. Deputy RTO Vijay Chavhan claimed that his office is the third in the state to have taken such measure.
The city RTO is one of the largest revenue generators for the state government as the number of vehicle registration is increasing every year.Nearly 500 learning and permanent driving licences for two-wheelers and four-wheelers are issued and about 500 new two-wheelers and 30 four-wheelers are registered here every day.
According to officials, around 800 people visit the RTO daily and most of them are harassed by touts. However, after installation of CCTV cameras, touts have been forced to move out of the RTO building.
The RTO and deputy RTO can monitor activities on the front, ground, first and second floors sitting in their chambers. "I am planning to install more cameras to cover the entire office and the backyard,'' Chavhan said.
The CCTV also helps senior officials to keep a watch on the activities of their staff. Officials claimed that though not eliminated totally, there has been considerable drop in illegal activities on the premises.
"The system will also help curb theft of spare parts of seized vehicles as reported in the past," Chavhan said adding, "The system can keep back up for a month." During his tenure in Wardha, Chavhan had installed CCTV cameras in his office, which was first in the state to have the facility. Later, the system was implemented at Pune RTO and now at Nagpur city RTO.
Drive against autorickshaws to continue
Deputy RTO Vijay Chavan said the drive against autorickshaws plying without digital meters will continue in coming days. Around 4500 autorickshaws have replaced old meters with electronic ones, he said. So far, 417 permitted and 410 private autorickshaws have been detained. In this process, the city RTO has collected a fine of Rs32 lakh from the violators.
More prepaid booths
On the lines of prepaid autorickshaw booth at west side of Nagpur railway station, the city regional transport office is planning to start the facility at eastern gate of the station, outside Ajni railway station and Ganespeth bus stand, he added.