Raring to take the driving test to obtain a licence for your motorcycle or car? Soon you may be left with no choice but to drive down to Gambeeram around 20 km away from the city centre to take the test. The State government has sanctioned four additional Regional Transport Officer (RTO) posts for the 13 districts in Seemandhra at its meeting held at the end of last month. The government is said to be considering posting one of the four RTOs at the Gambeeram Office and making full use of the modern facilities available there to test the skills of prospective motorists.
Steep increase
The steep increase in the number of applicants seeking LLR (learner’s licence) and the corresponding increase in the number of those seeking fresh driving licences (permanent licence) and the limited facilities at the existing testing track at Madhavadhara VUDA Colony has prompted the Transport Department to develop the track at Gambeeram.
The driving test ground, developed on a 24-acre site by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) at Gambeeram on the outskirts of the city more than three years ago, is ready for full-fledged operations.
The Transport Department is said to be toying with the idea of shifting all activities pertaining to issue of all licences like fresh driving licence (permanent licence), learner’s license (LLR) and inclusion of additional class of vehicle in the licence to the Gambeeram Office.
The Gambeeram facility has three motorcycle tracks, an equal number of LMV (Light Motor Vehicle) tracks and one heavy vehicle track for testing those who apply for heavy vehicle licence. “The proposal to post an RTO at Gambeeram is still under consideration of the government. The decision on shifting licensing activity to Gambeeram will be taken at a higher level. There is a possibility of posting skeleton staff at the Madhavadhara testing track for the convenience of motorists of the city,” Deputy Transport Commissioner Prabhu Raj Kumar told The Hindu when contacted on Friday.