CCTV cameras to monitor touts at Pune RTO

The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) near Sangam Bridge is now under surveillance with four closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on its premises to keep watch on touts. Pune RTO Arun Yeola claimed that his office is the first in the state to have taken such measures.

The RTO is one of the largest revenue generators for the state government with increasing number of vehicle registration taking place in the city. Nearly 1,200 learning and permanent driving licences for two-wheelers and four-wheelers are issued every day.

Apart from that, nearly 500 new two-wheelers and 250 four-wheelers are registered in the office every day. Officials say around 1,500 people visit the RTO every day and most of them are harassed by touts. But after installation of these CCTV cameras, the touts have been forced to move out of the RTO building.

At present, the monitor for these cameras has been placed inside Yeola’s cabin, where he can monitor the activities on the ground and first floors. “I am planning to install 16 more cameras to cover the entire office and the other office on Alandi Road. This will cost around Rs1.50 lakh, and we are hopeful that government will sanction the amount by January.’’

It is also helping senior officials to keep a watch on the activities of their staff. According to these officers, although the illegal activities carried out by the agents have not been eliminated, they have reduced considerably.