SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Mar 4: Safety and anti-corruption campaigners lament that there are no independent vigilance departments to track and break the network that’s putting lives in danger – for a price by issuing Driving Licenses to untrained drivers. License applicants at the transport offices are mobbed by a battery of noisy touts with ‘lucrative offers’. Those who have not taken any driving test can easily buy DLs from touts well-entrenched in transport department offices in Ranchi.
Upon asking as a customer, Lagatar24.com correspondent was initially taken by an advocate standing at the gates of the Kutchery building to a person amid the opposite side of the Kutchery where several lawyers and touts work.
Taken to a ‘reliable agent’, the correspondent was informed that documents including Aadhar card, PAN card, and first page of bank passbook would be needed (if address mentioned in Aadhar is out of state) for a 2+4 DL.
When enquired about the charges, the correspondent was asked whether they were ready to sit in a driving test. When declined, the touts said, “It would cost around Rs 9000 without a driving test, while with one, the cost would be up to Rs 7500.” However, the option of bargaining is not available. The correspondent was later informed that several driving schools in the capital also ‘help’ applicants get DLs ‘without much fuss’.
Normally, for a learner’s license, one has to take an online test to prove situational awareness of traffic rules. The applicant has to then demonstrate safe, real-time driving skills to be able to get the final DL. But these are just rules, meant to be broken.
This correspondent visited the Kutchery office and said that she does not know how to drive, but wants a permit. Touts said “that is what we’re here for.” We are here only to help you; pay the money and the job will be done,” said a tout, which was the common assurance.
He said the first-stage permits can be easily obtained without the mandatory online test. The applicant may need to visit the offices either once or may be twice for photographs and other for attendance in Morabadi.
“We have good connections in transport offices. That’s why we charge a little extra,” said another tout. He said a learner’s licence can be managed for Rs 2,500.
Transport department officials denied any nexus with touts but admitted that inadequate space for driving tests may be a reason people tend to take short-cuts and the racket is thriving. “According to a rough estimate, about 60 percent of applicants don’t come with their vehicles; they don’t take any tests. They just approach touts,” an official said.
As a result, fatal road crashes have spiked in the Capital this year as well, despite much-hyped safety campaigns. And people, with illegally procured driving licenses (DLs), have emerged as a huge threat to road safety, officials have emphasized. “Drivers aged 25-35 are involved in almost one-third of the accidents. People, with illegally procured driving licenses or no license at all, have emerged as a big threat to road safety,” said Rakesh Singh, a traffic police official.
