econd day of ban on touts at Regional Transport Offices (RTO) started giving positive results with more applicants coming forward to get their work done."Overall footfall was less as compared to last week or when agents' involvement was there but on Tuesday more applicants were seen as compared to Monday," said an official from Andheri RTO."If an individual is ready to come themselves for their work the role of touts of agents will be eliminated. In a city like Mumbai, where time is money and money is time people appoint agents despite the high amount they have to pay. This is how agent culture gets promoted," opined an RTO officer."There was a positive response on Tuesday as compared to Monday, the turnout of applicants was relatively healthy and it is likely to only increase in the coming days," said B Azari, RTO, Wadala (East).But one of the affected section are the auto rickshaw and taxi permit holders. Till date representatives from their union were the liaison for documentation and other formalities, since Monday even they were not given entry inside the RTO premises.Thampi Kurien of Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union met Transport Commissioner Mahesh Zagade with an appeal to allow union functionaries to get formalities done on behalf of auto and taxi owners."Our point was to permit entry to registered union office bearers, which was accepted and verbal instructions have been given to RTOs in Mumbai for the same," said Kurien.In the last two days, only auto and taxi drivers were entertained but not union representatives.As part of the Road Safety Awareness Campaign an BEST exhibition bus was stationed at Tardeo RTO to educate people on safe driving, around 500 people participated in the drive on Tuesday. In the last one week Janta Darbar too was organised on the road safety issue apart from imparting knowledge to NSS and RSP cadets

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