Jaipur: Nearly seven years after Jaipur shifted part of its licence testing to an automated track, the city still runs two parallel systems for judging new drivers.At Jhalana RTO, applicants must clear a computer-monitored driving test on the automated track near CBI Fatak in Jagatpura. Officials say the test records mistakes objectively, and the failure rate is around 50%.At Vidhyadhar Nagar RTO, which has no such facility, licences continue to be issued after manual inspection, a process officials admit is far less rigorous.“The Jhalana test is demanding. Even skilled drivers sometimes fail. Whereas, at Vidhyadhar Nagar, staff shortage often reduces the test to formality. Driving skills are either not checked properly, or the test is minimal,” a senior RTO official said.The result is an uneven licencing regime within the same city. Applicants from east, northeast, south and southeast Jaipur, including Adarsh Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Jagatpura, Pratap Nagar and Sanganer, fall under Jhalana. Those from Vidhyadhar Nagar, VKI, Murlipura, Sirsi Road, Sikar Road corridor, Jhotwara, Ambabari, Shastri Nagar, Khatipura and Bani Park are tested through the manual route.Officials say the gap has encouraged address manipulation. “I have seen applicants coming with fake address documents at Vidhyadhar Nagar RTO after failing at Jhalana,” an RTO inspector said.
The automated test track is located in Jagatpura near the CBI Phatak
The disparity has sharpened concerns over fairness and road safety. “If automated tracks are better, they must be implemented everywhere. One city cannot test drivers by two standards,” the inspector added.Jaipur RTO I, Champa Lal, told TOI that the Jhalana automated track is “far more efficient and acceptable” for assessing new drivers. “Gradually, automated testing tracks will be set up at all locations, and in the future, there will be no place without an automated system. A track has also been proposed in Vidyadhar Nagar, and it will be built soon,” he said.The previous govt introduced the automated system in 2019. The track is located in Jagatpura near CBI Fatak.
Transport officials want such tracks at other RTOs
