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Renewing DL at the RTO without touts/bribes
Written By s_yajaman - 8 April, 2010
Bangalore Corruption RTO Citizen Reports Transportation Private transport car Driver's license bureaucracy
My wife and I went yesterday to the Indiranagar RTO to renew her DL. As soon as we stepped into "the zone" there were touts offering help. We, of course, ignored them and walked up to the RTO.
As we walked up we realized that my wife's DL said "RTO BNG CENTRAL" (Koramangala) and we wondered what trouble that would mean. But we decided to check anyway.
There was a helpdesk there. It was operational. We asked the lady there if we could renew the license here. She gave us the forms and asked us to check at Window 3 if it was possible. We also realized there was a medical fitness certificate (completely in Kannada) to be got from a doctor.
At Window 3 there was a reasonably helpful lady. She told my wife that it was possible to do it there. She confirmed if the address remained unchanged. She asked us to write a letter requesting that the license be renewed there.
We paid the Rs.250 fee at the cash counter and my wife went to get her MC done.
There was a doctor down there (Dr.Lokesh) who certified my wife medically fit. He also helped her with a cover and smart card application and Rs.25 postal stamps (the RTO posts your smart card DL home). He charged Rs.50 for all this (I think stamps were separate.
She went back upstairs and submitted the forms at Window 3. She was told to go and get her photo and thumb-print taken. We then left. We must have spent about an hour or a bit more. They said this will take 15-20 days as the DL was issued in Koramangala. No problem.
So - please don't fall for the touts there. The whole process is simple and anyone should be able to do it without any outside assistance. Keep the following documents
a. Proof of address if your address has changed (Electricity bill, LIC policy) - there are some 8. Bank passbook is NOT allowed.
b. Application form
c. MC - get it signed by the good doctor below
d. Passport photos
e. Pen, plain paper, stapler, etc
You don't need any tout there to do this.
Srivathsa
COMMENTS
Naveen - 8 April, 2010 - 08:28
Touts abound at every RTO, despite notices that clearly ask people not to use them. How come they are still around then ? Because many people still use them! There isn't any other satisfactory explanation to this. If one visits an RTO in a car, touts swoop down on him & this is proof that most customers for touts are the well off car owners.
When I had changed address for my vehicle regns & DLs from Koramangala back to Indiranagar some six years ago, it had been done quite easily without "assistance" from any tout. Thus, the system does work if one accepts laid down procedures instead of criticizing or laying too much emphasis on the quality of work or govt offices.
I agree with what what Srinivas says above - "it is not the system it is us who are corrupt and want an easy way out in everything". We do not want to be clean & when some documents cannot be produced for whatever reasons, we try to circumvent rules & laws & are ready to engage touts or pay bribes to get these kind of jobs done.
Some people are impatient to the point that they feel too strongly about normal procedural delays & justify appointing touts even if all their papers are in order, claiming that it's a headache to get a job done in govt offices.
All of the general public suffer as a result.
Ditto, can get things done w/o touts
silkboard - 8 April, 2010 - 09:47
I have visited KR Puram RTO a few times (changes to DL, address, then smart card format). Same story - touts around, but if you read all information carefully and use the help desk (and can manage some kannada, helps) available, don't have to pay anything extra.
However, here is an interesting incident that happened when I was there few years ago to get address change on DL:
- Tout overheard my question at the help desk, and came up with this pitch, "saar - they will keep the license, you will have nothing for a month, problem if cops stop you for checking."
- Help desk person didn't reply, though he did hear the tout's pitch
- While I walked towards cabin of the RTO officer (forget the name and exact title now), tout made his offer "DL in 1 day, Rs 2000!"
- I asked the RTO comsnr about it. And he said nothing like that, you get a receipt that would fill in as a temp DL till you get the updated DL back.
Now the climax.
- While the RTO Cmsnr was explaining the paperwork requirements, the same tout walked in to the cabin, almost casually, as if this was his place. He picked some files from a drawer, left a few back, and casually walked out.
- I asked RTO Cmsnr about touts in general, and he said, "see, you can get your work done in 30 Rs, or 2000 Rs. All information is here, we are here to help. But if people still want to work with the touts, what can we do?"
Obviously, I didn't ask him about the casualness with which that particular tout and few others (who knows who is an employee, who is not, they don't wear any ID badges) kept walking in and out of his office. And also not about possible arrangements with the tout.
This was 3 years ago. When I was there 2 months back, office seemed better, seemed like there were lot less touts roaming around.
Still remember the time I went to Jayanagar RTO to get the first 2-wheeler (gearless) license a while ago (late 90s) - took at least 6 trips (6-8 don't remember exact number) on bicycle no less! But gave no bribe and used no touts.
Renewed my D/L today and wife's car FC
s_yajaman - 10 May, 2010 - 12:54
Another trip to the Indiranagar RTO today. Had to get my D/L renewed and my wife had to get a Fitness Certificate for her 15 year old car.
BTW - my wife's DL arrived by registered post in about 20 days after she had applied for it.
As usual there were touts aplenty offering to do the jobs for us. We assured them that we would come back to them in case of trouble :).
We had all the documents ready. My booklet D/L issued in 1988 was in tatters. The lady at counter 3 was annoyed at the state of the D/L. I apologized and said that I would keep it better next time. Anyway she checked all the documents. She asked me to write a letter for the change in address and to also attach a duplicate D/L form. Did both. Paid the fee. She asked me to go the thumb-printing and photograph section. Did that. All done in 45 minutes. The lady at counter 3 is very efficient and has a no-nonsense approach.
Then the FC. This process starts only at 12:30 p.m. That is done near the Bangalore One centre (the part of the BDA complex adjacent to Old Madras Road). My wife had all the documents. The inspector grumbled a bit. He then inspected her car and said that the license plate was bent and there were dents (I straightened out the bend in the plate). He asked her to start the car, checked the lights, brakes and indicators. She then had to run around a bit to pay the fee and get some signatures. We were done by 2:00 p.m. The process is not laid out clearly anywhere. But with a bit of persistence one can get by without an agent.
Moral of the story. No need for any agents. The D/L renewal process is straightforward.
Go to the RTO where you were issued the D/L. If there is change in address write an application out on a blank paper and attach some proof of address (LIC policy, Electricity Bill, Water Bill, Ration Card are some). Fill out Form 9 and the Medical Certificate by the doctor down there. Buy a cover and stamps for Rs.25. Write out your address on it.
Go to counter 3. The lady will write out the fee to be paid. Go pay the fee. Go back to Counter 3. She will initial the set of forms and send you for the photo and thumb-print. Hand the forms to the person there. She will click your photo and take your thumb-print Go back to Counter 4. Submit the set of documents. You will get a receipt for the same.
Job done.
Srivathsa
nl.srinivas - 8 April, 2010 - 06:56
I got my DL about three years ago without any help from these touts. I took my driving test on the test track on tumkur road and failed the test. Passed the test next time I took it. There is absolutely no need to go to any tout unless you want to get a license without knowing how to ride/drive sensibly.
Most of the driving schools are an apology for a driving school. The driving schools also "help" you get the license.
The more I think about it the more I get convinced that it is not the system it is us who are corrupt and want an easy way out in everything.
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