Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 7 Jun: Applicants seeking a permanent driving license for two-wheelers will no longer have to travel to the Institute of Driving and Training Research (IDTR) in Jhajra for their driving test. The Transport Department has set up a dedicated driving track within the RTO office premises in Dehradun, where tests will commence from Monday (June 9). This facility, however, is limited to two-wheeler applicants. Those applying for a car driving license will still need to visit IDTR Jhajra, located about 20 km from the city.
Currently, the learning license test is conducted at the RTO office through multiple-choice questions on a computer. However, applicants had to travel to IDTR Jhajra for the permanent driving test, which posed difficulties, especially for women, young girls, elderly individuals, and teenagers (aged 16 to 18) applying for non-gear vehicle licenses.
To address these concerns, the RTO proposed conducting two-wheeler tests within the office premises, a move that has now been approved by the headquarters. Additionally, the online fee for the permanent DL test for two-wheelers remains Rs 900, but applicants will no longer have to pay the Rs 118 service charge levied at IDTR Jhajra.
RTO administrator Sandeep Saini has shared that applicants appearing for the two-wheeler DL test at the RTO office must bring their own helmet and should be proficient in riding. The test will be conducted on the newly built driving track, and applicants will get only one chance. If a rider places their foot on the ground during the test, they will be considered failed.
Applicants are also advised to avoid falling prey to middlemen. They should apply online through the Sarathi software themselves or get assistance at a Common Service Center by paying a nominal fee of Rs 30. Before taking the test, biometric fingerprint verification will be mandatory.
The new driving track at the RTO office has been constructed as per prescribed standards and will be monitored under CCTV surveillance, ensuring a fair and transparent testing process.
