Quote:
Originally Posted by shajufx My wife has a similar situation. Her book was issued from Andheri. Now if someone flips the pages, it may come off in powder form
Please message me or quote me here once you complete your process. I will ask her to follow the same. We are permanent residents in BLR since 2005, although her parents are at Andheri itself incase some RTO papers are required from there. Thanks |
Ok, so to summarize my experience of trying to get my old book type license transferred from Maharashtra (MH04) to Bangalore (Ka05). A mini-ordeal and mini-drama in stages:
1. Had a book type license that is valid till 2022. The book was in tatters and I could have got into trouble when I was pulled over during a drive to Rajasthan in Oct 2016.
2. A lazy bugger that I am, I did not think too much about it, till I made up my mind for a drive to Ladakh in Aug 2017. At this point, I decided that it is time for me to convert my book type license to smart card. My options were to either apply for a LL and then DL in Bangalore, or get an NOC out from Thane. This is in the last fortnight of May 2017
3. Did I mention that I am a lazy bugger? The thought of appearing for a LL exam and then DL test did not appear appealing, and I thought of giving an NOC a shot. As I had no intention of traveling to Thane to get an NOC in person, decided to explore via an agent. Decided that I would go the LL-DL route if I cannot get an NOC.
4. My sister, who is settled in Mumbai, kindly agreed to coordinate with a big, old time driving school in Thane. Coincidentally, I had taken driving lessons from him a few decades back. The owner/manager confirmed that he could get an NOC out in no time. My license being book type and me not being physically present was not an issue. Fee quoted was Rs.550, including the fees for NOC.
5. I couriered the following to my sister: Original DL, Application in plain paper, 2 recent passport size photographs, address proof photocopy, Aadhar card photocopy. My sister went to Thane and handed over the package to the driving school.
6. Mini drama 1: The training school staff reacts on seeing the book:
Driving school: Madam, this is book type. Not sure if data can be retrieved, your brother will have to come
Sister (extremely cross): Told you on the phone itself that it is book type. If brother could come, would have gone straight to the RTO.
Driving school (backing off): Ok madam, we will take the license and go to RTO. If they can issue NOC then good, else we will give you the license back.
7. As my sister knew that I would not be able to drive as I am not in possession of my DL and as she did not want to make another trip to Thane just to collect my DL, she insisted that the driving school check with the RTO immediately. Since this was a working day, and about 10.30 am, the owner agreed and sent a staff member to the RTO. My sister accompanied the staff member.
8. There the driving school person managed to extract my record, and also win a few arguments with the RTO staff on why they should issue an NOC to me, inspite of me not being physically present. There were references to bio-metrics also. However, there is a provision where the RTO can issue a paper NOC and they did that. The main official was not there, so the driving school person collected the NOC in the evening, and my sister collected it from the driving school the next day. The only negative experience was that the driving school person conveniently made my sister stand in a few queues etc.
9. Upon receiving the NOC (with the original DL stapled to it) from Thane, I made my way to Jayanagar RTO. I was armed with the NOC, address proof and Aadhar card- both photocopy as well as original, self addressed stamped envelop (rs. 18 worth of stamps) and an application on plain paper. Chose a working day and reached the RTO office a little before 10.00 am. I do not speak the local language, and the staff at the enquiry counter spoke only in Kannada. However, rest of the staff were willing to speak in English and it helped. Did not employ an agent. The sequence of events are as follows:
a. Enquiry counter: explain everything to the lady. She thinks I want to transfer car. Explain again that its for DL. She asks me to visit the RTO superintendent and points me in the direction.
b. RTO superintendent has not come yet. The PRO is available, and she asks me to go to counter 11 and meet the Assistant superintendent (not sure if I have the designation correct).
c. Counter 11 is a picture of chaos with no queue, and agents milling around. I finally get some face time with the lady there. She is not sure if she can accept my application as my original DL is in book form. Am asked to go to cabin no 8 where there is a deputy superintendent (not sure if I have the designation correct), and I have to ask him.
d. Minidrama 2: Official in cabin 8 asks me where is the chip card from MH04. I am confused and I tell him that the license is in book form, no smart card. He explains that MH04 should have given a chip card with my details while issuing NOC. That ways, he would have easily retrieved the data. Now he will have to send a letter to MH04 to confirm that my NOC is genuine and at times it can take upto 3 months to get a response. After some back and forth I almost plead with him that I have just come from Thane with my NOC and I cannot go back for the smart card. I also wonder why the RTO there did not give me this option of smart card when I visited them. The official relents and says that if I am willing to take a chance is if fine with it. I thank him, and confirm that I can continue to drive with the acknowledgment slip that I will get from them
e. Go to counter no 11 and tell the lady that I have an ok from the official. She glances at my "packet"including the application on plain paper and then asks me to get a form requesting for license transfer and fill that. I am confused, as the Karnataka RTO website does not list any form for license transfer. Anyways, I trudge back to the enquiry counter, and with the help of someone standing there, confirm that there are no forms available for DL transfer and that application as to be made on plain paper itself.
f. Walk back to counter no 11, and tell the lady there that there are no forms and that I have already typed a neat application on plain paper and request her to accept the same. She agrees, and advises me to purchase a small plastic ziplock from the xerox shop downstairs so that my original DL is protected. However, she says that I should first get the data entry done and asks me to go to counter behind her counter
g. I do that and handover my forms to the computer operator. He asks me to wait outside. I use that time to go down, get the pouch and also a cup of tea that I now desperately need! I spend around 30 mins down soaking in the fresh air and enjoying my tea.
h. Walk upstairs and the computer operator confirms that data entry is done and hands over my forms to me. I detach the DL, place it in the ziplock and staple everything together. Am told to go to a cahs counter at the far end of the office where money is accepted for DL related services.
i. Within 5-10 minutes of standing in a short queue, I manage to pay the requisite fees- Rs. 351. I am now asked to go to cabin 8 and get the officials signature.
j. At cabin 8, the official checks everything and scribbles something on the side of my application with green ink.
k. Make my way to the biometrics room. There is a big queue, but the process if fast and my turn comes within 10-15 minutes. Men applicants are asked to pay Rs. 50 (no receipt, so I guess it's chai-paani). Get my biometrics done.
l. Hand over everything to a counter adjacent to counter 11. Here the person concerned gives me an acknowledgement slip that I can use and drive. I ask the person on the timelines, and he mechanically says "30 days".
I finally walk out of the Jayanagar RTO around 12.15 in the afternoon. Not sure if I will get my smartcard within 30 days or within 3 months. The drive to Ladakh is planned for mid-Aug so keeping my fingers crossed!