Two years on, Panvel RTO still awaits a helpline number

PANVEL: Although it has been two years since the Panvel regional transport office ( RTO) was opened, it still lacks the facility of a dedicated helpline (a toll free number) for commuters to report their grievances.

The complaint procedure now requires commuters to either write a complaint with the registration number and post it to the RTO or call on the office number. However, officials said that in the absence of a dedicated helpline number a majority of complaints that were received were written ones.

“We have received 103 written complaints since February this year. Most complaints are usually about extra charges and refusal by auto drivers,” said an RTO official.

The importance of such a helpline can be better understood against the background of transportation woes in Kharghar, Kamothe, Panvel and New Panvel where auto drivers refuse to ply by the meter.

“We still use the office num- ber (27424444) to register complaints. We have asked MTNL to provide us with a dedicated helpline number,” said Sharad Jichkar, regional transport officer, Panvel.

“All the autos in Vashi have a helpline number painted inside autos. Panvel RTO also needs a similar helpline,” said a commuter from Panvel.

RTO officials on the other hand claimed that despite regular checks, commuters did not cooperative. “We have squads that regularly checks autos. We check 10 autos for any violation every day,” said Jichkar.

“However, my squads have usually given a status report that commuters do not cooperate and hardly complain about auto drivers on spot,” he added.