RTO flooded with requests for badges

While the number of badges given out to auto drivers in October was 62 followed by 117 in November,the last eight days have seen a whopping 148 badges being handed out to autorickshaw drivers. An RTO officer said the rush has increased due to ongoing recruitment process for MSRTC bus drivers and conductors.

From December 1,it’s become mandatory for autorickshaw drivers in the city to wear badges. The traffic police is taking action against drivers not wearing the badge. Thus,one can see a long queue of autorickshaw drivers at the RTO to obtain the badges as quickly as possible.

Member of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Baba Shinde said,“There are still thousands of autorickshaw drivers without the badges. Now,that it’s been made compulsory,they have no option but to get the badges as quickly as possible.”

According to Regional Transport Officer Chandrakant Kharatmal,apart from autorickshaw drivers,people wishing to get recruited into the MSRTC service have also been coming in large numbers for the badges. “The increase in the number of applications is putting some burden on us,but we have made arrangements to deal with the extra rush,” he said.

Those who want to work with the state transport body have to get their badges at their own expense. Divisional Controller of the MSRTC Shivaji Sonawane said,“The recruitment process to fill in the posts of drivers and conductors is currently going on. These candidates have to procure badges from the RTO before they are recruited. In Pune division,there are 718 posts for drivers while 386 for conductors.”