3 months on, 6,038 driving licences sent by post return undelivered

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had launched the scheme of sending driving licences by post in April this year. A novel scheme, which apart from ensuring convenience for applicants, was also meant to curb the illegal practice of procuring fake licences as posting this document would help confirm the address of the applicant.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had launched the scheme of sending driving licences by post in April this year. A novel scheme, which apart from ensuring convenience for applicants, was also meant to curb the illegal practice of procuring fake licences as posting this document would help confirm the address of the applicant.

HT Image

The RTOs at Mumbai Central, Andheri, Wadala and Thane have so far dispatched 45,362 driving licences by post, of which more than 6,000 were returned undelivered.

These figures were culled out on June 24, a day after the taxi union threatened to go on strike.

“Of the 6,038 driving licences that couldn’t be delivered to the applicant, nearly 70% belonged to taxi and autorickshaw drivers, which couldn’t be delivered due to lack of correct residential address,” said a senior RTO official, adding, “The taxi union threatened to go on a strike in protest as most of the drivers don’t have a permanent address in the city.”

Taxi and autorickshaw drivers have to renew their licences once every five years, while a private vehicle owner has to do it after 20 years.