Transport dept banishes touts from RTOs, minister unimpressed

Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote today appeared contradicting a top official of his department over a ban on entry of touts on the premises of regional transport offices.
"Who do you call an agent? You being a journalist, if someone asks you to help him with his work at an RTO office and you go there to do it, (do) you become an agent for that person?. Do you take money (to do that work)? No. This is why I asked you how would you define an agent. RTOs are open for public... The transport commissioner is looking into it," Raote said while speaking to reporters in Pune.

His statement came days after the state Transport Commissioner Mahesh Zagade warned RTO heads and their deputies, along with clerks at RTOs, of disciplinary action, including suspension, if any tout is found on the premises of RTOs.
When contacted, Raote took a U-turn saying his comments have been misinterpreted by media.
"My comments have been misconstrued. I have only said that it is the responsibility of the administration to carry out such works. If what transport department officials are doing is right, the government will support them," Raote told PTI.