Get driving licence delivered at home
Experiment To Start From May 1 ………..Prafulla Marpakwar
The transport department has drafted a proposal to deliver driving licences at your doorstep. This will be done on the lines of a similar scheme run by the regional passport offices.
“We have drafted a new scheme, which will be implemented on an experimental basis from May 1 in select regional transport offices. After completing the basic formalities, we have proposed to deliver driving licences at one’s residential address,’’ transport secretary C S Sangitrao told TOI.
Sangitrao said talks were on with the postmaster-general on how to implement the scheme. “We will charge between Rs 27 and Rs 30 to deliver a driving licence at home,’’ he added.
At present, explains Sangitrao, the regional and district transport offices do not have any mechanism at their disposal with which they can verity the addresses given by the applicants.
As a result, licences are sometimes issued on the basis of wrong addresses. “We felt we should follow the scheme adopted by the passport offices,’’ he said.
On learner’s licences, Sangitrao said it had been proposed that the system currently followed in Pune be implemented across the state in a phased manner. “The Pune regional transport office has introduced a computerised examination system, in which a learner’s licence is delivered in two hours. We feel it is a successful scheme,’’ he said.
DRIVING THROUGH
17 lakh
learning licences issued per year10 lakh permanent driving licences issued annually
17 crore permanent driving licences issued
Motor schools to be graded from June 1 …….
Nitasha Natu I TNN
Mumbai: In a bid to ensure road safety, motor driving schools across Maharashtra will be graded into three categories from June 1. Last week, an instructor from Trombay-based Bagde Driving School was convicted for drunk driving and the school’s licence was suspended for six months.
Driving schools will be graded into A, B and C categories, depending on the quality of education imparted, facilities provided to students and the instructors’ qualifications. The grading will be completed by August 31.
RTO officers will carry out surprise checks on the schools twice every year to ensure that they are following the guidelines.
“I have issued a circular of guidelines to all 45 RTOs in Maharashtra,’’ state transport commissioner D Kapoor said. “Each RTO should convene a meeting with driving schools in its jurisdiction. The deadline for all schools to conform to the guidelines is May 31.’’
According to the circular, 20 marks will be allotted for the school premises which includes a clean classroom, a lavatory, a library of books on transport, audio-visual aids and furniture.
Another 20 marks will be allotted to ensure that vehicles are in working condition and that latest models are used for training. Twenty-five marks will be allotted for qualified instructors—each instructor should be at least a Std X passout, should have minimum five years’ experience and studied motor mechanics or mechanical engineering.
Twenty-five marks will be allotted for the curriculum, which should follow current standards, as specified under Section 31 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rule. RTO officials will ascertain this after questioning students. Lastly, 10 marks will be allotted for maintaining the required registers and public perception of the driving school.
“While schools that score above 75% will be given A grade, those scoring between 60% and 75% will be given B grade and schools with scores between 50% and 60% will be given C grade. Those who score below 50% will be served a notice for suspension of licence. All schools will have to display their grades in advertisements and signboards.