Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: A day after the announcement to resume slot bookings for driving license (DL) and learners’ license (LL) tests, Odisha State Transport Department (STA) on Thursday withdrew the decision and informed that the process will remain suspended in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the State.

As per a notification issued by the STA, the dates for fresh booking of slots for DL and LL tests will be announced later and the applicants have been urged not to visit RTO offices.

It is pertinent to mention here that Odisha had suspended DL and LL tests with effect from March 18, 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak.

STA officials further informed that learners licences expiring between March 18 and September 30, 2020 will remain valid till September 30, 2020. The fees paid by applicants for undertaking the LL and DL tests will not be forfeited and can be used for booking slots once the services resume.

In another development, Odisha today extended the validity of DL, LL, registration certificate of non-transport vehicles, fitness certificate and goods carriages, contract carriages, private service vehicles and bus permits of educational institutions.

The move comes in the wake of extension of the validity of various essential motor vehicle documents by the ministry of Road Transport and Highways on June 9.

The details of the extension of validity as follows:

Fitness Certificate: The fitness certificate of all motor vehicles expired/ expiring between February 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 will be treated valid till September 30,2020.

Registration certificate of non-transport vehicles: Registration certificate of non-transport vehicles expired/ expiring between February 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 will be treated valid till September 30,2020.

Driving Licence: Driving license expired/ expiring between February 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 will be treated valid till September 30,2020.

Learners License: Learners licence expired/ expiring between March 18, 2020 to June 30,2020 will be valid till September 30, 2020.

Also Read: COVID-19: Odisha Cancels Pending UG/PG Final Semester Exam, To Follow Alternate Evaluation

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

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