THE EASY RIDE

A paperless, largely online system of issuing driving licences has made touts and endless queues history in West Bengal and brought in much-needed convenience and transparency

- ARKAMOY DATTA MAJUMDAR

THE DRUDGERY

Until recently, obtaining a driving licence in West Bengal was a frustrating ordeal. The state's Regional Transport Offices (RTOS) were synonymous with bureaucratic sluggishness, operating from disorganised and antiquated facilities. For applicants, stepping into this chaotic system felt like entering a labyrinth-one in which touts loomed large. These middlemen thrived on bribes, offering shortcuts through queues, applications and even driving tests-at a steep cost. Then there was the outdated format of the driving licence itself. Issued as fragile paper documents, these licences were prone to damage and loss, often requiring applicants to endure the inefficient system all over again.

THE EASE OF LIVING