RTO receives complaints, auto permit winners are job holders

The deputy regional transport office, Vashi, has received around 28 complaints about the auto permit winners. These winners are allegedly working with state and semi-state government organisations. The dy RTO is checking with the concerned government organisations and also has made a CD that has details of all the winners.

This CD is sent to all the government organisations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai; to check if anyone of them are working in any one of the organisations. As per the RTO, working persons are not eligible to get auto permits.

The dna of navi mumbai had reported in its March 7 edition, that a majority of winners in the auto permit lottery held on February 26, have separate occupation. In the last one week, the dy RTO Vashi has received around 28 complaints; which indicated that there were winners in the lottery, that have been working in organisations like NMMT, BEST among others.

"We have sent their names and details to these organisations to verify the claim," said Sanjay Dhaygude, deputy RTO Vashi; adding, "If anyone of them are found guilty, their permits will be cancelled." In addition, the CD has been sent to verify the affidavit given by the winners. "All the winners have earlier submitted an affidavit that they are not working anywhere, which will now be verified," said Dhaygude.

However, auto associations claim that majority of persons; whose name appeared in the transport department's first lottery system for auto rickshaw permits, may not be auto drivers.

"It is surprising and shocking as these people may use the permits to rent out their autos illegally, thereby charging hefty amounts, claims city auto associations," said a auto driver. He added, "After getting permit, they will rent out the permit by charging a hefty amount which ranges between Rs1 lakh to Rs1.5 lakh."

This time, the waiting list for auto permit was higher than the total number of permits offered by the transport department. The dy RTO Vashi, had offered 2,687 permits while the total number of correct applications were 5,685. After the computer randomly selected 2,687 persons' names for the permits, the remaining 2,998 applications were put in the waiting list. However, the RTO had received 7,655 applications, of which only 5,685 applications were found correct.