Agent Ban Sparks Chaos at Surat RTO, Protesters Sit on Road

Surat | Gujarat — A hardline decision by Surat Regional Transport Officer (RTO) H.M. Patel’s decision to completely ban the entry of agents into the RTO office triggered chaos and protest, exposing long-simmering tensions around middlemen in government offices. The sudden enforcement of the ban brought daily operations to a standstill outside the office, as dozens of agents staged a sit-in protest on the public road from morning till evening.

According to sources, RTO H.M. Patel issued clear instructions to security personnel not to allow any agent inside the office premises under any circumstances. Acting on these orders, security guards were placed on high alert as soon as the office opened, stopping all agents at the gate. As word spread, agents who had arrived for routine work were left stranded outside, sparking anger and confusion.

“Not a single agent was allowed in. The instructions were absolute,” said a security official on condition of anonymity. “We were told to strictly follow orders.”

With entry denied, the agents gathered outside the RTO office and sat on the road in protest throughout the day. While the atmosphere inside the RTO office remained unusually calm and silent, the scene outside reflected open resentment and frustration. Commuters and office-goers were inconvenienced as the protest partially obstructed traffic.

The decision has sparked intense debate within administrative and political circles. Agents allege that the move is selective and driven by internal politics. “Officers transferred from Vadodara are trying to promote agents and file handlers from outside Surat while shutting out local agents,” claimed one protesting agent. “This is not reform; it is discrimination.”

Sources within the RTO confirmed that the decision was not taken overnight. Last week, RTO Patel had reportedly issued strict verbal and written instructions to the security agency regarding agent entry. Written statements of two security guards were also recorded, and the head of the private security agency was summoned and warned personally to ensure compliance.

“This is part of a larger drive to reduce agent interference and ensure transparency in public services,” said an RTO official defending the move. “Citizens should be able to complete their work directly without middlemen.”

The ban follows a similar crackdown at the Mehsana RTO office, where agents were recently barred from entering the premises. With Surat now implementing the same policy, the issue has gained statewide attention.

While many citizens have welcomed the move as a step towards cleaner governance, agents insist that the administration should have provided an alternative mechanism or transition period.