More applicants allowed to take driving tests to clear backlog in Ernakulam

Ernakulam RTO permits up to 240 persons to attend test each day

Aimed at clearing the huge backlog of applications for driving licence, Regional Transport Offices have begun permitting double the number of applicants to appear for driving test held each day, based on a Government Order issued on Wednesday.

Personnel from the Enforcement Wing of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) have been temporarily deputed to RTOs and Sub-RTOs to clear pendency, said a senior official of the Transport Department. “The disruption of driving tests due to the pandemic had affected innumerable applicants, mainly those who were waiting to go abroad and having a driving licence was mandatory. This also affected the functioning of driving schools. The permission to double the number of applicants appearing for the test was taken in such a situation,” he added.

“The new measure has in turn resulted in 240 applicants being able to attend test held by the Ernakulam RTO each day, as compared to 120 as was the norm. We thus hope to clear the backlog caused by the pandemic in another 15 days,” said P.M. Shabeer, Ernakulam RTO.