News Approved

This is so true.

I can recall an article that I read it in rediff couple of years ago; the point was that, no matter how much ever India shines, CORRUPTION is one word that will pull down the entire growth; its like taking 1 step forward but pulling back 2 steps behind!!!

Also, its not a country without laws, its just that the laws are no enforced.

PS - Just provokes a thought, are there any xBhp members who still smoke in public despite knowing that smoking in public places is against the law? Most of the corruption start with breaking the law in first place!!!

truely said no matter how forward we go [only on paper ] corruption is still dragging us behind independence time, sometimes i think we would have been a much developed country under British rule. Govt and we all should enforce the use of technology in Govt offices such that there should be minimal human involvement to process files [ i am expecting too much isn't it ].

This scenario will never change

I just felt ashamed...

Blame the government for all the bribes happening!

One has to think outside-the-box for reason behind number of bribes increasing year on year guys. Think about it. The youth in our country, to the most part, are very straight forward, and at best, try to avoid bribing unnecessarily. Take most of the members in X-bhp for example, we try to promote safety among bikers for an overall national objective.

But mind you gentlemen, the number of bribes are going to increase more and more, and agents like "Rafiq" are only going to grow in number....why? let me assess the situation point by point....

1. Getting a license is a very, VERY cumbersome process in our country. I don't know about rest of India, but in Chennai, there is only a certain time they give out application for license. Most of the time, the clerk complains that applications ran out. I mean what the hell? Is that even an excuse? that too at a license office?

2. When I got my licence back in 1999 (yeah, last century, when there was exponentially less bikes and cars on road), it was a week's process.

Day 1: Get application, and submit them with residential proof. You are then asked to come the second day to take a written traffic exam.

Day 2: When I go to write my written test, the clerk says that there is some problem with my proof documents, that ration card was not enough, I needed another supporting document. They could have told me this on day 1 itself. So day 2 goes to waste.

Day 3: Submitted the additional proof, and took the exam. But guess what? time got wasted in document verification and then I took the written test, but the driving/riding assesment inspector only verifies people skills between 10 am and 12 pm. I got my written test done at 1 pm. So they ask me to come the next day for my riding/driving test.

Day 4: Assessing inspector is on leave. don't know why, he put leave. so asked me to come back the next day.

Day 5: Took the driving test with the inspector next to me. You are ideally supposed to test for smooth clutch release, braking, indicator, and check whether people look back when reversing....but all that did not happen. I put first gear, went for 10 feet and inspector asked me to stop! said that was enough. why? because there are literally 50 more people waiting (not an exajerration)! And this inspector will only review between 10 am and 12 pm. so he hurries up!

Mind you gentlemen, this was back in 1999. Can you imagine the situation now? There will be close to 300 people waiting every day to get their license for a driving/riding test. Cars and bikes have multiplied exponentially on the roads.

Moreover guyz, back in 1999 I was a college student, so I could devote time to going back 5 to 6 times to the RTO, why? it was easy, I could bunk classes. But how can working professionals devote this kind of time? Being in corporte, it is impossible to take even two days leave. That too, we would like to avail that leave for vacation or emergencies.

Honestly guyz, who will have the time? close to impossible. Knowing that even if you take 5 days off from work to get your license, you are still not guaranteed of getting the license in stipulated time.

And what did the government do? They know cars and bikes are increasing 10 fold, but it is the same number of RTO offices with the same number of employees, only that applications are piled up exponentially! Can't the government increase its working staff? certainly they can afford with with all the registration and fees that come one from new vehicles. But no, they wont! stupid government!


So if I can pay Rs. 1000 bribe and get a license at my convenince, who wouldn't gentlemen? Unless the government doesn't take steps, expect more bribes, more danger, more deaths and more licenses to kill! (just damn frustrated thinking of all this crap )

and that's why i paid a bribe for my bike and car licence back in 2001 and i am ashamed of it. but hell yeah, gov system has made it so convenient for me and anyone else to go and get a license literately in just one day. it was so easy to get licensed in Lucknow that there was news back in 2007-08 that 2 terrorist suspect got their "official Indian ID" in the form of driving license from Lucknow RTO.

Road transport and Licensing system has been ignored to epic levels in India and I fail to understand why. "India shining" tag with new expressways and junctions cant create law abiding citizens until you force or make them follow rules, as compulsion with a strict licensing system.

I would not talk about general public but me. Being a young, comparatively active road user, I still dont know most of the traffic laws, rules, signs boards and lane discipline because i was never instructed or introduced to it (even if i gave the licensing test proper way).

By the way, Prajagta Shukre and season 1 Indian Idol winner (forgot that bloke's name) winner got beaten up yesterday I heard. They rammed a car into two underage (14 and 17) bikers. Who needs to go to jail now. the drivers or the riders?

@BKing - Have not gone through your entire post, but its not that difficult process as one explained in your post; ITS A WRONG STATEMENT.

If one does not know the law, then there're lots of people to take advantage on it. The Govt takes their own sweet time to do things & everyone wants things NOW, so there're middle level ppl exploiting.

If RTO guys say they don'tve form, download them from Transport...

I don't know about rest of India, in TN, atleast in Chennai, things are far better.

PS - Will go through all your points & provide my comments!!!

This is never going to change. Moreover, add to it the pathetic condition of city roads, especially Mumbai. No matter how much we crib of it, it just keeps getting worse.

Best one can do is ride safe, and be alert. Rest leave it up!

Again during 1999...
1. There was Chennai telephones & one has to stand in long queue to bill to pay
2. Paying electricity bill was cumbersome
3. No RTI
4. No online downloads for forms
5. RTO does not provide a legal way to choose your number
6. Applying for a passport was like entering satan's den!!!

These are some of the things that I can recall; so when so much of facilities are provided now, why should someone still approach tauts? Hope you know about the implementation of CCTV on 5 RT offices in Chennai & there's a help desk at KK Nagar west RTO.

It has become much easier now days.

One needs to take time, understand the law thoroughly their working time, may be through some driving school or someone who's experience & then approach the RTO (or any Govt office) with all relevant docos & why would they refuse?

Living a fat life on your's & my tax money!!!

Boy!!! do not insult the word "stupid"

Are you justifying bribery? Note that paying or accepting bribe is against law!!!

ENFORCEMENT is they key; if the Govt does not wake up now, it will be too late when they wake up!!! Yes, its better not to think of these.

Has anyone ever noted that most of the corrupt officers are people above 45 or 50. And if someone asks them why they do it, they come up with things like he has 3 daughters or bla bla bla. These government offices should be held by younger people (20-30 age group). Can't say that they are totally corruption free but they are much less corrupt than the others. But then again, it doesn't mean all the others are corrupt.

Things have improved here in my city... atleast as far the tests are concerned. At times they ask us to stop when on a bridge, and if we do, they cancel our learner's license too. Sometimes they ask us to start the car from a steep uphill slope and the car shouldn't move back an inch. If that happens they cancel the learner's. But since around 100-200 people come daily for the tests they don't do this to all the people.

when i was doing my license i wanted a 4 wheeler test but the rto officer directly said to pay rs 50 and take it . when i said i wanna give a test then he said the JEEP is under repair and will be back to condition in a month or 2 only.....

@argee: good statements there buddy. Yes, I understand that things have changed now, especially with the internet coming up and stuff. But I think that actually going to RTO and proving to the inspector that you can drive/ride is still a cumbersome process, with a long wait. Perhaps there is an appointment system in place now? someone can correct me on this.

@everyone: As Argee noted, in no way was I trying to justify bribery. That is wrong and against the law. This is why I mentiond that despite getting my license took a whole week, I got the license the proper way. It was easy for me because I was in college that time. My whole license cost in 1999, for car and bike was Rs. 135, with a 20 year validity, up until 2019. (yeah, lucky me ).

I only mentioned that for others, they cannot seem to waste that time, especially if they are working. In their minds, putting leave amounts to either loss of pay, or losing their holiday time. Unfortunately, such people find middle men, bribe them, and get their licenses. This is wrong. They should have the conscience to learn things properply, and as argee noted, to atleast go through a proper driving school. On the other end, the government should also ENFORCE (again, as argee noted) for stricter laws and also make efforts to increase their RTO infrastructure.