Major administrative reform aims to boost transparency, curb alleged collusion, and allow citizens to apply from home

Ananya soch: In a significant move aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing public dependency on middlemen, the Rajasthan Transport Department has announced the complete discontinuation of the traditional “Inward” system across all transport offices in the state from June 1. The decision, implemented under the directions of Transport Commissioner Purushottam Sharma, is being viewed as one of the department’s most ambitious administrative reforms in recent years.

The new system will enable citizens to access a wide range of transport-related services online without visiting transport offices. As part of the initiative, the department has made 58 services available on the Citizen Portal, including 26 services from the Vahan Portal and 32 services from the Sarathi Portal. Applications can be submitted directly by citizens or through e-Mitra centers.

Why Was the Change Needed?

For years, transport offices have faced allegations of middlemen operating with the support of a few employees, creating unnecessary hurdles for citizens. Complaints regarding unofficial payments and “facilitation charges” for inwarding applications have frequently surfaced. Officials believe the new online system will significantly reduce human intervention and close loopholes that allowed such practices to flourish.

How the Earlier System Worked

Under the previous arrangement, applications for various services were physically submitted at transport offices and inwarded using employee IDs. Citizens often had to depend on agents to ensure faster processing of their applications. This not only increased costs but also raised concerns about accountability and transparency.

What Changes From June 1?

General inward IDs at transport offices will be deactivated. Inward processing will only be permitted in exceptional and highly necessary cases through authorized RTO or DTO-level IDs. The process will be monitored regularly by the department headquarters to ensure compliance.

Citizens will now be able to submit applications, upload documents, make payments, and track the status of their requests online. Officials expect this digital shift to reduce office crowds, speed up service delivery, and create a more citizen-friendly ecosystem.

A Big Blow to the Brokerage Culture

The department believes the reform will improve efficiency, strengthen accountability, and make transport services more accessible than ever before. If implemented effectively, the initiative could become a model for administrative modernization in other government departments as well.

“The inward system in transport offices will be discontinued from June 1. We have made 58 services available on the Citizen Portal, which will directly benefit the public,” said Purushottam Sharma, Transport Commissioner.