Now, getting a driving licence or undertaking a driving test will cost you more. The State Transport department has increased the fees for issuing a driving license from Rs 300 to Rs 500. The State Transport department has increased the fees in all segments, the fees for learning license which earlier cost Rs 100, now will be made at Rs 200. Similarly, for renewing a license, commuters have to pay Rs 300, which earlier cost only Rs 150.
Transport related charges have also become expensive in Jharkhand from Thursday. On Wednesday, the notification of Jharkhand Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules 2021 was issued with the signature of Brajendra Hemrom, Joint Secretary, Transport Department. The Gazette has also been published. Now for taking permits, driving and learning license of vehicles or any other transport related fee, all have been increased.
Anup Kumar, who has come to give a driving test at Morhabadi ground said, “We have come to know that the state government has increased the driving test. There has been an increase of nearly 100 per cent. The driving license which earlier used to cost Rs 300, will be made at Rs 500 which is unfair.”
The Jharkhand Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2021 were approved by the cabinet on July 27. The fee for other things including permits has been increased by almost double. Buses will now have to pay Rs 9000 instead of Rs 6000 for a permanent permit of five years. At the same time, goods vehicles will have to pay a fee of Rs 4000 instead of Rs 2000 for the permit.
As the biggest hike has come on issuance of permits, the transporters are upset with the hike. A city based transporter requesting anonymity said, “The State Government only focuses on imposing all types of taxes on people. The state government has no concern for traders and common people.”
The transporter claimed that the bus owners are already facing heavy losses due to corona and now the state government has increased fees permit and others. Sources said that during the corona period most bus services were affected as plying on buses was restricted.
The bus services which resumed months back too were also with restrictions as buses were allowed to run with only 25 per cent seats.