Post-DL driving test in UP

LUCKNOW: Get ready for post-DL driving test in UP. You might be called by the transport department to drive and show at your respective RTO office. In case you flunk the test or can not drive safely, the regional inspectors (RIs) and assistant regional transport officers (ARTOs) at the concerned office would face the heat whereas decision on the DL of the person who can not drive safely despite holding the document would be taken by the senior transport officers.
"We have ordered random checks at regional offices to find out if they are conducting the mandatory driving test before issuing the DL," said transport commissioner, K Ravinder Naik. Those who already hold the DL would be called for a test. Transport department has reiterated that ARTOs and RIs should find out open grounds, road-less-travelled or vacant spaces around offices to hold driving test. "We have also written to the DMs to help us find such spaces," said the official.
In UP, people get their driving licenses without clearing the mandatory driving test. About half of the regional transport offices in the state do not have a testing track. Drawing '8', driving up a slope and sliding it back gently are the kind of tests a driving licence applicant is put to. Some of the bigger centres like Noida receiving close to 300 DL applications daily do not have an office to call their own. Out of 75 districts RTOs in 20 districts work from rented premises.
At least 39 manual testing tracks have been constructed in the state in last three years. While seven such tracks are under construction, RTOs in 15 districts are yet to get the track.