RTO’s Alandi Road facility lacks infrastructure, basic amenities: Motorists

Pune: It is often a test of patience rather than driving skills at the Regional Transport Office’s (RTO) Alandi Road facility, as applicants for a driving licence or a fitness certificate underline that the lack of infrastructure and basic amenities is marring the process.An applicant, who appeared for such a test, told TOI requesting anonymity that the facility lacked even basic arrangements such as seating, drinking water and adequate waiting areas.“My father has been a heart patient. He had to stand and wait for hours. I saw many, who were waiting for their turns, trying to find shade wherever they could amid the sweltering heat. With so many applicants coming for tests every day, there needed to be some basic facilities,” the applicant said.RTO sources said the facility has been witnessing heavy footfall per day. On an average, around 200 applicants arrive each day for two-wheeler driving tests. In addition, nearly 150 autorickshaws visit the facility for fitness certification. “Cars come here for re-registration. The numbers fluctuate depending on appointments and quotas,” an official said.Another driving test applicant raised concerns over the condition and management of the driving test track. “The track was supposed to remain clear so applicants could drive and complete the ‘8’ pathway. However, last week, I was surprised to see people casually walking across the track when candidates were taking the test,” said the Hadapsar resident, who is a student.“On two occasions, pedestrians came directly in front of applicants, distracting them. The RTO officer on duty kept shouting at people to move away, but her instructions were repeatedly ignored,” said the applicant.Senior RTO officials, however, said major improvements were on the way. Pune deputy region transport officer (RTO) Swapnil Bhosle said a new Automatic Driving Test Track (ADTT) would be ready within two months. Equipped with cameras and sensors, the system will automatically assess driving performance with minimal human intervention.In addition, a command and control centre, waiting rooms, and other supporting infrastructure are also expected to be completed simultaneously.“At present, the existing track could not accurately assess the driving skills of applicants. The new facility would be on the lines of the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR). It would provide a far better scientific and transparent testing process,” Bhosle told TOI.Autorickshaw drivers do not seem to agree. They, too, complained about inadequate infrastructure for driving tests. One auto driver told TOI that there was no dedicated test track for fitness inspections. “We were asked to drive on an internal road and apply brakes at marked lines. There were long queues, and we had to wait in our vehicles at different points. A new test track was under construction, but we didn’t know when it would be completed,” he said, requesting anonymity.The situation on the ground, however, remains grim. As another applicant put it, even drinking water was difficult to find at the facility. “My father had to go outside the facility and buy water bottles. There were long queues, with only one or two officers handling everything from submission of applications before the test to final paperwork after the test,” said the Wagholi resident.