Testing delay for driving licence

Hyderabad: Almost all the applicants for the driving test are made to wait for three to four weeks to undergo tests for the licence as all the five testing tracks in the city are not able to cater to the rush.There are eleven RTA offices in the GHMC limits but all these offices do not have the testing tracks to carry out the driving tests resulting in the delay for the applicants to undergo the test. At present, the testing tracks are in Medchal, Kondapur, Uppal, Nagole and Ibrahimpatnam and it is said that there is a delay of at least two weeks to undergo the test.

According to sources, there is a delay of three weeks in Medchal and Uppal testing tracks. Sources also said if applicants come for a test for two categories like bike and car, the applicants have to wait for 25 days particularly at the Uppal testing track.When asked about it, officials said the driving tracks are in the outskirts of the city because of lack of space for the land and this was one of the reasons for the delay. The applicants from Khairatabad and Mehdipatnam RTA offices are asked to take up tests at the nearest centre at Kondapur. However, sources said that this is always crowded with motorists coming for the test.

The rush increases during the weekends with holidays for the IT companies. According to officials, on an average, 11 RTA offices in the GHMC limits get about 1,500 to 1,700 applications of learner’s licence and the number has gone up in the recent times because of the drive of traffic police against no-driving licence. With more number of applicants coming, the waiting time has gone up to two weeks.Sources said that the driving schools are also to be blamed for the delay in getting a slot for giving the test. The driving schools block Saturdays, which is the most convenient day for the IT employees but when they try to book slot, they are forced to apply after four weeks.

A senior official told The Hans India that most of the RTA offices are on rented premises and space constraint was the problem for having testing track. “The Mehdipatnam RTA office itself is on a rented premise. Wherever there is space, testing tracks are laid.The Nagole centre, which has 14 acres of land, has 10 tracks to clear the applications. We have to decide on increasing the working hours to accommodate more applicants and go for some more open spaces in the outskirts of the city,” said the official.

Auto and Motors Welfare Association general secretary M Dayanand said the officials should take steps to accept more applications so that there is no delay.