Indians whose international driving permits (IDPs) expired while they were abroad can now renew them from overseas. The new system will come into effect from Feb 15.

State transport commissioner Avinash Dhakne, who received the General Statutory Rules (GSR) for Maharashtra on Sunday morning, told the news agency: “It is a good step & will benefit scores of Indians abroad during the pandemic. Indian students based abroad are facing problems with renewal of IDP, & this will help them.”

This is a welcome step, specially for students stuck abroad due to Covid-19 & want to renew driving permits. As per UN convention, validity of IDP is for a year. Many representations were made online following which IDP renewal norms were revised so that one need not come to the RTO in person.

So far, there was no mechanism to renew IDPs while citizens were abroad. Now, it is proposed that Indian citizens can apply for renewal through the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, from where these applications would move to the VAHAN portal in India, to be considered by respective RTOs. The IDP will be couriered to the citizens at their addresses abroad, said Dhakne, adding that such couriers will be sent on priority.

Dhakne said that “This notification also removes the conditions of a medical certificate & a valid visa at the time of requesting the IDP in India".

The fees for renewal will be Rs 2,000, which the applicants will have to furnish online. They will also have to provide proofs with the application—which includes proof of valid driving licence, three copies of passport photographs, proof of nationality & proof of valid passport. “There are countries where visa is issued on arrival or visa is issued at the last moment. The application can now be made without a visa now.”

Ajay Govale, Director of Community Impact at United Way Mumbai, said that if processes are made easier to follow, people tend to follow them more. “It is a good step, & by sending IDP through courier, the Govt is going out of the way. It’s a good approach,” he said.

Nitin Dossa from Western India Automobile Association said this was a WIAA initiative as many members from the association who are based abroad were affected.

He added that "We took up the issue with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) whose director Piyush Jain was instrumental in pushing for the amendment in the existing rules".

Source Link

Picture Source :