Times View

MUMBAI: The Andheri regional transport office (RTO) has initiated a welcome step to weed out touts from the process of getting a learner’s licence. In a first in the state, it has uploaded on the internet learner’s licence application forms and introduced online registration.From now on, applicants from the western suburbs (Bandra to Dahisar) can simply log on to the website mahatranscom.in, download the forms and fix a date and time—subject to availability —when they wish to take the test for getting a learner’s licence. On the appointed date, they need to furnish the required documents to RTO officials, provide some biometric data, and clear the simple test. Around 10 minutes later, they can walk out with their learner’s licence.“The Andheri RTO was the first to introduce the 10-minute system for delivering licence. This is yet another achievement for it,” said a senior official in the transport commissioner’s office, adding that the Tardeo and Wadala RTOs will soon introduce similar online registration systems.Deputy regional transport officer Bharat Kalaskar added: “We want to eliminate the role of touts who charge hefty sums for providing forms, filling them out and getting applicants their learner’s licence. Now, one can go through the whole procedure without depending on touts.”Denied a lucrative avenue, touts may create trouble, sources said. Some touts had recently threatened RTO officials after the 10-minute “jhatpat” licence system was launched at Andheri. “We are ready to face threats again,” said an official. “Our transport commissioner V N More (who came up with the project) wants to introduce a transparent, citizen-friendly and IT-enabled service. This will root out corruption.”Officials noted that up to 350 appointments will be allotted for each working day between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Those aged between 16 and 18 can apply for a licence for two-wheeler without gear and less than 50CC after getting their parents’ consent. Those aged above 18 can apply for a non-transport licence. For a transport licence, the required minimum age is 20 years. An appointment can be cancelled only until 48 hours before the allotted time.This online system can be a boon for the public as it’s an effective tool to escape the web of corruption and red tape that is the norm in many government offices. But the authorities should ensure that the system works and human interface is kept to a minimum. Other government service-providers should learn from this experiment and emulate this.