Hirra Azmat
Srinagar, Sep 30: Sajad Ahmad, 50, was on cloud nine when he received the delivery of two Tankers in July. For Ahmad, tapping tanker service market was high on his business agenda given huge demand and quick bucks in this sector.
Ahmad’s happiness was short-lived as government snapped internet services causing delay in the registration of his two tankers. For the last two months he has been visiting Regional Transport Office for registration and every time he returns empty-handed.
“The tankers are without registration. I have been coming here for the last two months. First they told me that the registration fee has increased. Then they said it has been revoked. Now they are telling me to pay fee in installments which left me confused,” he said.
Post August 5, functioning of Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been severely hit due to the communication clampdown. Car registration, license renewal, fitness and permit are mostly done online and all these procedures have been affected due to the internet blackout.
Sensing gravity of the situation, RTO has started using the internet of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar’s office to complete online formalities.
An official at the RTO said 90-95 percent of the work at RTO happens online. “Due to internet and communication blockade, registration, license renewal, fitness and permit of vehicles are taking some time. But we are ensuring that they are done at the earliest,” he said.
Regional Transport Officer Srinagar Ikramullah Tak said: “Our office remains open every day. The employees shift to DC office after 2pm, where the internet is working. Within next few days, internet will be restored in our office too.”
