Women motorists of the State will have to wait at least till November to get waiver from paying fees meant for driving licence. The procedure to execute the relaxation given to them by the Cabinet long ago is expected to take two more months.
Officials of Transportation Department said that they were making all efforts implement the order to make women exempted from paying fees of driving license including the registration charges. Notably, the State Government has approved the proposal to waive the fees of women motorists in a Cabinet meeting held way back in November last year.
“The Department is drafting the procedure at present. Within two months the process will be completed and notification will be issued to the District Transport Office (DTO). From November 2016, women will not have to pay for making driving license in the State. However, the relaxation is given only in making driving license whereas other proceedings will be carried out as per the Motor Vehicle Act for women drivers too in State,” said, Joint Transport Commissioner, Anjani Kumar Dubey.
At present, women motorists are paying the fixed amount as prescribed in the norms of Motor Vehicle Act for the registration and other process for getting the driving license. Women motorists in the capital city often complain that they have to face several problems while getting registration or for applying for driving or learning permit. They blame the laid back attitude of DTO for this wearisome process.
“I am running from one section to another to submit the application form. The process is tedious. No officials are present here to clarify doubts and explain about the procedure. The government decision to waive off fees should to be considered at earliest to avoid red tapism,” said, a student, requesting anonymity. On the other hand, District Transport Officer is helpless and they too are waiting for the notification from transport department to implement the process.
“No such notification has been received for waiving off fees neither any discussion is held on it. Though the decision was considered eight months back but it has yet not been implemented. Only after receiving a communiqué from the State government the decision will be considered,” said, District Transport Officer, Nagendra Paswan.
On providing facilities to women and making the procedure easy for females, Paswan, added, “We do give preference to girls and women. Officials are always here to guide them.”
Similarly, Computer Operator at DTO, Nirmal Kumar, said, “Though the initiative to waive off the charges for females is yet to be considered, daily on an average approximately 50 women apply for driving license and also enquires about the smart cards. In June 354 women have applied for licence. The figures have gone up in July, as 437 women have submitted the form for driving license in capital city.”