To eliminate serpentine queues at regional transport offices (RTOs) and reduce proliferation of middlemen, the state government will soon make it mandatory for applicants to seek online appointments for driving licences.In a meeting of a committee on e-governance chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held recently, it was decided to introduce the online system from January 2015. The compulsory online system for learning as well as permanent driving licence is expected to bring in a first-in-first-out culture.

The number of valid motor driving licences in the state by March 2013 end was 258.7 lakh, an increase of 7.6% over the previous year. The number of learning licences issued in Maharashtra during 2012-13 was 27 lakh.

"In the old system, if a person wanted a learning licence, s/he had to go via agents. There was a huge rush (at RTOs). In the new system, you will have to apply online, upload the required documents and choose the date and time for verifying the documents as well as tests," transport commissioner Mahesh Zagade told dna.

For a permanent licence, one has to upload the relevant documents and take an appointment online. "We plan to do away with human intervention and agents," stressed Zagade.

The state transport department has around 50 RTOs.

Zagade said the department had begun online appointments for learning licence at almost all RTOs, and for permanent licence, online appointment has begun on a trial basis. "We will also start online system in our camp offices like the one at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur where we have no (permanent) office," he added.

The traffic department now has an automatic driving track in Baramati. Zagade said the department was planning to set up tracks in other RTOs through outsourcing or government funds. It is also planning to launch its own app for various services in around six months time.

23.4 vehicles in cityAs per the (state's) economic survey for 2013-2014, the total number of motor vehicles on Maharashtra roads as on January 1, 2014 is 228 lakh (20,504 vehicles per lakh population), an increase of 9.4 per cent over the previous year. Of these, about 23.4 lakh vehicles (10.2 %) are in Mumbai. The number of vehicles per km road length in the state is 94.