Rajahmundry: In a bid to ensure safe commute, especially for college-going students, the road transport authority organised 'Learner's Licence Mela' in degree and professional colleges issueing learner's licence registration (LLRs) after bringing about awareness on road safety norms in Godavari districts. With the state government having launched e-Pragathi web portal providing online registration for driving licence and for other services being offered by road transport department, officials visit degree and professional colleges to advise students to register for learner's licence online after educating them about road safety.
The students are advised to bring documents like Aadhar card, Class X certificate for age proof and address proof. These documents are uploaded on the software application of e-Pragathi web portal charging fees of Rs 260 to be paid online through net banking or other online modes of payment. The computer needs to have a device attached to it to register thumb impression of those who intend to register. The road transport authorities provide online registration service at the computer lab of the colleges. Once all relevant documents are uploaded, the applicant is supposed to book a slot for LLR and after undergoing online screening test, he or she will be issued learner's licence. It takes just a few minutes but as the authorities are going for mass registration of LLRs, the students get their LLRs issued the same day or on the next day.
The road transport authorities says that their aim is to see that students have valid licence to ride or drive vehicles so that they will feel responsibility while riding or driving vehicles. The authorities also educate students to accord top priority on safety of self and other commuters and pedestrians on road while riding or driving vehicles. Moreover, the authorities say that the students are being educated so that in case they flout the road safety norms, their licence will be either suspended or cancelled depending upon the gravity of the violation in addition to subjecting them to penalisation.
In East Godavari, the road transport authorities held mela in about six degree and professional colleges in Rajahmundry, Kakinada and Ramachandrapuram. Nearly 1,600 students have been issued LLR. East Godavari deputy transport commissioner in-charge V. Siri Anand said, "We are getting very good response from the students for our learner's licence mela. They are smart enough to learn the road safety signage quickly and appear for the screening test to get issue of LLR to them. We will continue the drive until March next."
In West Godavari, the authorities carried out the drive in colleges in Eluru and so far 260 students were issued LLRs. West Godavari deputy transport commissioner S. Satyanarayana Murthy said, “As we are reaching out to the students in their colleges, the students are coming forward to apply online.”
