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With free licence to loot, touts remain unfazed
A day after HT exposed the official-tout nexus at the Gurgaon transport authority office, it was business as usual for the driving licence agents.
A day after HT exposed the official-tout nexus at the Gurgaon transport authority office, it was business as usual for the driving licence agents.
With no checks in place, the touts have a free hand in operating the racket at the regional transport office (RTO) at the E-Disha Kendra in Mini Secretariat.
One even approached the HT team and offered his services. When asked if he could get a licence made without the relevant documents, he directed the reporter to a nearby notary where several other touts were busy compiling documents for their customers.
The agent also claimed he could arrange address proof papers for R3,000.
“There is no vigilance here and I can get the licence made without any problem. The applicant has to just pay R3,000 and he/she is free from appearing for the tests. If the applicant does not carry required documents, I can arrange even that,” boasted the tout.
He further said that the police and local authority are aware about the illegal practice. When asked about the news report published in HT on Wednesday, the tout said, “If senior officials of the transport department are not bothered about the news report, then why should I?”
He further said, “Officials are also getting their share. You can see how fast they work when we approach them. We have free access to their offices and our files get cleared within minutes. We give them a share of the fee charged from applicants.”
A licence authority official admitted it was difficult to curb the illegal business due to corruption and poor management.
“We are helpless as these touts have a strong network in the department. They just find system loopholes and take benefit of it,” the official said.
