Rajahmundry: Officials from Road Transport Authority (RTA) have started a 'Learner's License Mela' to issue driving license to individuals who have completed 18 years of age. As part of the month-long programme launched by the authority, licenses are being given for seven categories of vehicles mainly in rural areas all over the state. The programme that began on Thursday will continue till February 23.
As part of their efforts to take several services of road transport department to the door steps of people, authorities would be visiting villages to issue LLR to those interested and eligible to drive a vehicle. However, as the process requires Internet connectivity, the road transport authorities will be available at the gram panchayat offices where Internet connectivity is good along with personnel from Common Service Centre. The authorities have already started carrying out tom-tom in some villages giving details of their scheduled visit to issue LLRs and also asking interested and eligible people to avail the service.
The RTA has asked people to visit them carrying documents like Aadhaar card, address and age proof and Rs 250 to be paid through online to book LLR slot on road transport department portal. Once the LLR slot booking is confirmed, the person has to undergo computer based road signs test and in case the person is able to clear it, the LLR will be issued immediately.
The transport authorities avail the CSC services also for issuing the LLRs to eligible persons.
The authorities will issue LLRs for seven categories of vehicles including motor cycle with or without gear, light motor vehicle non-transport, invalid carriage meant for physically challenged persons with three wheels, electronic cart for transport of both passengers and goods, electronic rickshaw for transport of both passengers and goods and heavy vehicle for both passengers and goods.
Though the authorities are making all out efforts to reach out to the people especially from rural areas to motivate and encourage them to get LLR so that they can practice riding or driving and obtain valid licence after a few days to ride or drive vehicles by complying with all road safety norms, they are getting no proper response from the people. The young villagers arrive to gram panchayat and submit an application form to get LLR. But when they are asked to undergo computer based test on road signs, they hesitate to take it and a majority of them fail to clear the test for lack of exposure to usage of a computer and also for failing to practice the road signs before taking the test. The authorities say that this has become a major hurdle in their drive to help more number of people to get LLR. However, a majority number of students from several educational institutions even if they are located in rural areas, are able to manage the test as they are used to operate the computer and practice the test before taking final test.
East Godavari transport deputy commissioner V. Siri Anand said, “We are trying to encourage more number of students and villagers to attend LLR Mela and get LLR so that they can ride or drive vehicles confidently by following road safety rules and ensure safety for self and to others.”
