Telangana orders immediate closure of all RTA checkposts after ACB raids expose corruption

Sources in the Transport Department said the decision was prompted by shocking revelations from the ACB, which found that certain officials were collecting illegal payments from truck drivers and transporters, often without issuing receipts.

Raj Rayasam

Published Oct 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM

The move is seen as a step towards digitising transport regulation and eliminating physical checkpoints, which have long been criticised for fostering illegal collections.

Synopsis: The Telangana government has ordered the immediate closure of all Road Transport Authority checkposts following Anti-Corruption Bureau raids that uncovered a widespread bribery network within the transport department. The Transport Commissioner has issued detailed directives for dismantling checkposts, redeploying staff, relocating assets, and ensuring public awareness, with an aim to move towards a fully digital and transparent transport compliance system.

In a major anti-corruption move, the Telangana government has ordered the immediate closure of all Road Transport Authority (RTA) checkposts across the state. The decision follows a series of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raids that revealed a widespread bribery network within the transport department.

The Transport Commissioner issued a memo on Wednesday, 22 October, directing officials to shut down all RTA checkposts with immediate effect. The move is seen as a step towards digitising transport regulation and eliminating physical checkpoints, which have long been criticised for fostering illegal collections.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reportedly instructed officials to implement the closure without delay, saying that technology-driven monitoring and compliance would replace outdated manual systems prone to corruption.

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Key directives from the Transport Commissioner

The directive, memo No. 1254/E/2024, refers to Government Order (G.O. Ms. No. 58) of the Transport, Roads & Buildings (TR&B) Department dated 28 August 2025, which had previously authorised the closure of checkposts. Its implementation was delayed until the recent ACB raids accelerated government action.

The memo lays out an eight-point plan for swift and transparent implementation:

Immediate cessation of operations: All Transport Department checkposts are to stop functioning immediately, ending physical inspections and manual toll collections.
On-site oversight and public notification: Deputy Transport Commissioners (DTCs) and District Transport Officers (DTOs) must personally supervise the dismantling of all checkpost infrastructure, including boards, barricades and signage. They must also replace them with notice boards informing motorists about the closure and guiding them to use online services.
Staff redeployment: All personnel posted at the checkposts are to be reassigned to district offices, ensuring no staff remain at the sites to prevent unauthorised activities.
Barrier removal and documentation: Physical barriers must be removed to ensure smooth traffic flow. The entire process should be videotaped for transparency, with the footage submitted along with a compliance report.
Asset and record relocation: All movable property, including computers, furniture and documents, must be transferred to the DTO offices. Financial and administrative records, such as cash books and challans, are to be reconciled and securely preserved.
Public awareness measures: Clear signage must be displayed to inform commuters about the closure and alternative digital compliance platforms.
Compliance reporting: Detailed reports confirming closure, staff redeployment and asset relocation must be submitted to the Transport Commissioner.

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ACB raids reveal widespread bribery at RTA checkposts

The move comes days after ACB teams carried out surprise raids on 18–19 October at more than a dozen checkposts across Telangana, recovering unaccounted cash amounting to ₹4.18 lakh.

Investigations showed that some officials were taking bribes from lorry operators under the pretext of overloading fines and other violations, without issuing official receipts.

The raids, which targeted both border and inter-district checkposts, exposed what investigators described as a “systemic and organized extortion network.”

With the closure of all checkposts, the Telangana government aims to establish a fully digital and transparent transport compliance system.

Physical checkpoints will be replaced with technology-based monitoring.

(Edited by Dese Gowda)