Soon, hurdle-free, transparent process to acquire DLs, LLs

Pilot project at Yelahanka in Bengaluru in March first week

Soon, the entire process of issuing learning licence (LL) and driving licence (DL) will go online as the transport department has initiated steps to implement the Sarathi 4.0 software in the State in an effort to make the process citizen-friendly and transparent.

The pilot project will start at the RTO office at Yelahanka in the City during the first week of March as the department has given training to the staff there and made necessary arrangements such as high-speed internet connection and computers.

Licence aspirants can do the entire process online such as uploading necessary documents, paying prescribed fee and booking the slot for skill test at their convenient time. The entire process will be paperless as applicants are not required to produce either photocopy of documents or printout of online-filled application.

What they need to do is just produce the acknowledgement number received on their registered phone number while appearing for the test at RTO office. This facility for the aspirants will become a reality once the completion of the pilot project.

An official in the transport department told Deccan Herald that the licence aspirants have to write the exam online to get the LL. Fifteen basic questions, Each one carrying one mark, related to safety and transport norms will be asked online and they have to score 10 marks to pass the test, the official added.

Taking illiterate persons also into consideration, the software has provision for audio questions on rules in Kannada and English with four options.

An official at the RTO office in Yelahanka told Deccan Herald that the online process helps keep agents away from the applicants because any literate person can fill the forms and attend the skill test without relying on the agents to secure the licence.

The software keeps the applicants informed on the status of application through SMS to their registered number and if they clear the LL test, printout of LL can be taken by themselves anywhere.

Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety Ramegowda told Deccan Herald that this system would be implemented in RTO offices across the State in a phased manner once the pilot project is completed.