Home Minister R R Patil on Friday came down heavily on the Regional Transport Office (RTO) saying that “those with money get driving licences easily”. The Home Minister said persons seeking a driving licence through the proper legal procedure, are made to visit the RTO repeatedly, whereas those coming through agents get it quickly. Patil further said that the issuing of driving licences to wrong persons is causing an increase in road mishaps. “The RTO should not only focus on collecting fines, but also look after the security of people. RTO officials have not participated properly in the Road Safety Week movement. Their participation was important,” he further said. Patil expressed the need for stern rules like the cancellation of driving licences of those who are not following traffic rules and committing serious offences. “During the investigation of accidents, the police should also check whether the driver responsible for the mishap was issued a driving licence through the proper procedure or not. Along with conducting the spot panchanama and postmortem of the deceased, the police should also check the condition of the vehicles, the roads, or whether there are any potholes or wrong turns, which may cause mishaps,” he also said. The minister also said that police should give better treatment to the persons who help in the investigation of road accident cases. “Many times, the persons who help the police have to visit courts and police stations frequently, which is a kind of harassment. Police should do a video recording of these persons. In democracy, it is important to work with the people. So, instead of calling these persons to police stations, the police should visit them at their house to seek their help,” he said. Senior officers, including additional director general of police (administration) Satishchandra Mathur, additional director general (traffic) Vijay Kamble, Pune Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol, District Superintendent of Police Manoj Lohiya, joint commissioner Sanjivkumar Singhal, additional commissioners Shahji Solunkhe, Abdur Rehman, Suresh Mekala, deputy commissioner Vishwas Pandhare, Pune Mayor Chanchala Kodre, Pimpri Chinchwad Mayor Mohini Lande, film star Bhargavi Chirmule and Dr Nilesh Sable were present on the occasion. 'Plan to reduce deaths due to road accidents in state' Home Minister R R Patil said that last year the number of deaths due to road accidents in the state reduced by 1,140. “Now we have kept a target of reducing such deaths by 2,500,” he said. Patil also said that those police officers playing an important role in solving traffic problems in the state would be rewarded with a hike in salary. He said that 72 per cent of the persons who died in road mishaps are less than 40 years of age.
