NEW DELHI: With driving skill tests suspended since early this month due to the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government on Friday extended the validity of all learner’s licences till March 31.
From January 6, driving skill tests have remained suspended by the transport department, while its online ‘faceless services’ continued to function. Appointments for driving licence, both existing and fresh ones, at all RTOs were suspended in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases and guidelines issued by Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
In an order issued on Friday, the department said that while driving skill tests and new appointments for the tests were suspended, validity of learner’s licences was extended up to January 31. The validity of a learner’s licence is six months, after which the licence holder has to appear for a driving skill test to get a permanent driving licence.
“It has come to notice that several learner’s licence holders have not been able to obtain the online appointment slots for their driving skill tests and there are many more applicants than the available driving test slots,” the order states.
According to the order, the validity of those learner’s licence issued by the transport department, whose validity has expired between February 2, 2020 and January 31, 2022, is being further extended for two months, i.e. up to March 31, 2022.
“Keeping in view the interest of the general public of Delhi, the transport department has decided to extend the validity of all learning licences and heavy driving licences for the next three months i.e. up to 31.03.2022. Under the leadership of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government is always standing with the common people,” Delhi’s transport minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted in Hindi on Friday.
The validity of heavy commercial (transport) vehicle driving licences has also been extended up to March 31 in a separate order issued on Friday. The order further states that practical training and classroom training of drivers have been suspended at two separate centres at Loni Road and Burari. Some of the training courses have been discontinued presently. “As a result, a number of commercial vehicle drivers are not able to get their driving licences renewed,” it adds.
