More city folks want to drive in foreign lands too

KOCHI: It seems that more and more businessmen from the city are planning to hit the road abroad. The increasing demand for international driving permit (IDP) at the Ernakulam regional transport office (RTO) proves the point.
The motor vehicle department (MVD) has already issued 340 IDPs this year till July.
While a total of 520 IDPs were issued last year, the figure is likely to go up further.MVD official say the RTO on an average issues 45 IDPs a month and has in the last three years issued 1,368 permits in the district.
Officials say most of the applicants are businessmen who frequently fly abroad and attribute the rise in demand for IDPs to increasing awareness among people.
Ernakulam regional transport officer T J Thomas points out that it is difficult to get an IDP from a foreign country because of stringent rules and long waiting periods.
"Most people take an IDP from their hometown. The permit can also be used an alternative identification document," he said. But there is a caveat on its use. "If one wishes to stay for more than a year in a foreign country, he will need to take an IDP from there," he said.
In India, the permit can be obtained from the RTO by paying a fee of Rs 750 along with relevant documents such as a driving licence, passport, visa, air-tickets and passport size photographs. Usually the licencing authority issues a permit on the same working day that the application is received.
Thomas said that though the number of IDPs issued is negligible compared to domestic driving licences, the trend is catching up.