Bhubaneswar: It is now testing time for the people in Odisha as they are now making several visits to the offices of the Regional Transport Officers (RTO) to get necessary documents including driving licences ready so as avoid hefty penalties under the new Motor Vehicles Act 2019.
Even though Odisha government has provided a window of three months for people get all the mandatory documents before the act is again enforced in letter and spirit, people in large numbers are now queuing up at the offices of the RTOs across the State.
Taking cognizance of the chaos and overcrowding at RTO offices, Odisha State Transport Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda on Friday informed that five additional centres will be set up in Bhubaneswar and Khurda to facilitate issuance of learner's driving licence to people.
Apart from RTO-1 and RTO 2, these centres will be set up at multiple locations in Bhubaneswar and Khurda and the list of centres will be notified after identification of locations, informed Panda.
“People will no longer have to book slots as they will have to fill the forms, appear the test and take along learner's driving licence from the same centre on a single day,” Panda added.
Transport Secretary G Srinivas further informed that people will no longer have to visit the main RTO as they can apply and get learner's driving licence at such temporary centres.
The State government has also directed the Regional Transport Officers to increase the number of slots for speedy issuance of learner's and driving licences.
In a letter to all RTOs, the Transport Commissioner has directed to install extra computers for learner's test. The Transport Commissioner has also directed that the Regional Transport Offices will remain open in all government holidays as well.