The situation is such that, the people now rely on agents more than the staff at the office, as the chances of work getting done personally are minuscule compared to the pressure of the agents.

There is so much fear among people visiting these offices that no one wishes to speak against the way they function. These are the Road Transport Offices of Margao division.
The offices of RTO Margao have thousands of people visiting every day. The Enforcement Office though has a comparatively less number of people coming, but is the most important as well as the one plagued with maximum issues. Situated behind the Bagaytdar Bazaar in Arlem Fatorda this office is not less than a graveyard. Rusting grills, never repaired fans, lights and other fixtures and an equally unwelcoming service welcomes you at the office.
The cash counters at the RTO Office near Arlem are the most important parts of the office. There is a specific time for cash counters to accept cash in the form of fees from the public for various works, paying fine challans issued by RTO and others. It has been alleged that, after closure of cash counter timing, the cashier accepts the cash illegally by charging extra 10 to 20 rupees per cash slip.
There are counters for sale of prescribed government RTO forms for different types of work. These counters have timings to sell the forms, but outside the RTO Office, these forms are easily available and they charge double the rate for the forms. The office, as known to all, is under attack by the agents. The condition is so bad that the people now are not interested in going at the office personally and doing their work but they rely on the agents as the work happens much faster than the personal effort.
We travelled all over Goa in all the sub-divisions of the Transport Department and contacted some citizens regarding their experience in the office. Antonio D’costa said, “there are problems of electricity and the consequential delayed work is a common scene here at the RTO. We only pay taxes but we don’t get any service.”
There are no fans, lights or sitting arrangements for the people coming here. “There is a huge palatial Matanhy Saldanha Complex but still they are in these rental premises. Shifting would have changed the condition of the RTO here,” said Jack Fernandes.
Among all the works, renewal of Fitness Certificates is the most important and constant duty, the RTO Enforcement section does. There are sprawling lines of vehicles on the shoulders of eastern bypass which is one of the busiest roads in Margao and Fatorda area, practically leaving only one lane for the traffic. Here, the transport vehicles are required to renew the Fitness Certificates every year.
“The officers of various sub-divisions of the Road Transport do not check the transport vehicles at the time of renewal of Fitness Certificates as per the inspection report. The fitness certificates are renewed without checking important items such as hand brake or ball horn. Such incautious renewal of fitness certificates are the main cause of accidents,” alleged Jai Damodar Association. “If the brakes fail then there is no hand brake to control the vehicle and thus accident takes place due to the negligence of the RTO Officers,” Mahesh Nayak alleged. “All the Fitness Certificates which are to be renewed should be renewed by following strict inspection report,” added Mahesh Nayak.
Tired of these practices, Mahesh T. Nayak has written to the Chief Minister, Transport Minister, Chief Secretary, Transport Secretary, and the Director of Transport Government of Goa, highlighting these issues.
Every sub-office of Road Transport Department all over Goa has appointed/engaged/kept some illegal staff to provide services without permission of the government. Such people act as if they are the staff of the department and collect all money obtained though corrupt practices on behalf of the officers. They even handle all the official work, files, books and other works. The only difference is that they are not paid by the government nor they have the right to sign the muster roll.
The situation is such that, the people now rely on agents more than the staff at the office, as the chances of work getting done personally are minuscule compared to the pressure of the agents. Jai Damodar Association has demanded that the movable and immovable assets of the staff of entire Directorate of Transport has to be checked on priority basis and if it is more than the known source of income, such staff should be booked under Corruption Act.
When contacted the Private Bus Owners association president Shailendra Dessai, he said, “the staff at the RTO at enforcement act as if they are doing a favour on us. There is inadequate information given by the staff on official formalities. It is high time that the government takes this matter seriously and solves the issues related to the RTO,” said Shailendra.
Team TNV