Applicants for learner’s licence too are making rounds of the Transport Department Shivani Bhakoo Ludhiana, September 21 The police has continued its drive to challan drivers of vehicles for violating traffic rules. The step has been initiated to ensure that the people in the city obey traffic rules. The strictness on part of the police has borne fruits, too, as residents have started following traffic rules to some extent by using seat-belts, not using phones while driving, wearing helmets among other precautions. Meanwhile, violators who were issued challans by the traffic police are a harassed lot. The District Transport Department has miserably failed to clear the backlog of disposal of challans. If the staff at the Transport Department here is to be believed then since August 23, there has been no disposal of challans. “Suppose someone’s challan is cut on August 24, 2017. He is sent back as we have not been able to clear the pending backlog till August 23. The problem is not limited to disposal of challans. People are making daily rounds of the office to get learner’s licence. Till date, no applicant has been issued a learner’s licence as there is a backlog of applications since August 15,” rued a staff member wishing not to be quoted. Due to shifting of the Transport Department under secretary, Regional Transport Authority, no work could be done for over 15 days in the department, he added. He admitted that the public was being harassed and made to do rounds of the office, but it was not their fault. Ashwini, an applicant for learner’s licence, said his picture was clicked at SCD Government College on August 17, but the file was not cleared till date. He said, “I am waiting for the document.” Sandeep, a businessman, said he was challaned 10 days ago for using earphones while driving. “That’s okay. I was asked to deposit the challan amount at the DTO office after a week. I went to the office, but was told to come again after 10 days. No exact date was given. I was asked to be in touch with the department. This is disgusting. Why should I keep making rounds of the office? Why can’t they give me one date?” “And again, if backlog is not cleared, fresh date will be given, say officials of the DTO. This is a sheer harassment,” he rued.

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