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This is an archive article published on May 3, 2024

Pune RTO to tackle driving licence issues, to keep away unauthorised agents

The decision by the Pune RTO came two days after The Indian Express reported how touts are making money at the expense of visitors, without providing any real service as they enjoy a free run at all the offices of the Pune RTO.

Pune RTO meets NIC, driving licence, unauthorised RTO agents, Regional Transport Authority, National Informatics Centre, Aadhaar card discrepancies, online RTO applications, higher transport authorities, procedural adjustments, indian express newsPune RTO’s preliminary probe finds the Navale Bridge crash was caused by the driver losing control of the vehicle.(File Photo)

To stop the free run of the unauthorised agents at the various offices of the Regional Transport Authority, the Pune RTO held a meeting with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) on Friday to address the various technical hurdles users face, often compelling them to rely on RTO agents unnecessarily.

In the meeting on Friday, the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) and the NIC identified key problem areas such as discrepancies between Aadhaar card and online RTO applications during login and disruptions during at-home exams. The RTO plans to escalate these issues to higher transport authorities for procedural adjustments.

The decision by the Pune RTO came two days after The Indian Express reported how touts are making money at the expense of visitors, without providing any real service as they enjoy a free run at all the offices of the Pune RTO.

Sanjeev Bhor, Regional Transport Officer for Pune, said often users, when applying for a licence, require a full name that does not match with their Aadhaar card, posing a technical issue and leading them to approach agents. “Aadhaar card authentication doesn’t necessitate a middle name, unlike a licence where it’s crucial to put the full name with the middle name to prevent misuse in the future,” he said.

“The concern of having to remove the middle name in the form will be taken up with the higher authority,” Bhor added.

Another issue highlighted by the RTO, resulting from discussions with the NIC, is that although people are allowed to take exams at home, the sensor detects even small movements on the screen, creating interference for the applicant. “People often fail in exams due to this technical fault. To resolve the issue, users can come to us,” he said.

Previously, the Indian Express found that the RTO exam hall witnessed frequent in-and-out movements of agents, resulting in clients passing without sitting for the exam. In response, the RTO prohibited the entrance of agents to the exam room and posted a notice with instructions for them.

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Lastly, users who apply for an Additional Endorsement of Driving Licence (AEDL) do not have to visit the RTO office and can go through faceless process from home. Bhor said to apply for AEDL, a driver just has to add a new vehicle category to their existing driving licence, for which no test is required, but currently, people are facing some technical errors with that process. “This issue needs to be discussed in the next meeting with the NIC and will be resolved soon,” Bhor added.

Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More


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