BHUBANESWAR: Following an unprecedented number of applications filed for learning and driving licences, the regional transport offices in the State have been directed to increase their capacity to deal with applicants.
Transport Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda on Friday directed the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to facilitate citizen-centric services. “As there is a rush for learning licences, it has been decided to open four camps in Bhubaneswar and one camp in Khurda where the applicants can fill the form and appear for the test,” Panda said.
According to official sources, about 1.35 lakh learning licence applications have been filed after the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019 came into effect on September 1. With a limited number of daily slots for learning licence and driving licence applicants to appear at tests, the officials find it tough to clear the applications.
The RTOs have been directed to allow other applicants to appear for the tests if the one allotted a slot on a particular day does not turn up. They have also been asked to provide services on Government holidays.
The RTO-I, which used to receive 120 to 130 applications a day, is receiving over 2,000 forms now. To tackle the rush, RTO I has started facilitating LL test for 450 applicants a day.
Similarly, RTO II received about 50 learning licence applications a day before September 1, but now it is receiving over 1,000. It is facilitating 600 LL tests per day.