Goa to watch moves on commercial driving licence

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

Minister for Transport Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar on Tuesday said the state government will wait and watch the decision of the central government as well as other states as regards the advisory recently issued by the Union ministry of road transport and highways on relaxation of licence norms for commercial vehicle drivers including taxi operators.

The Union government has done away with the requirement of a commercial licence for driving taxis, three wheelers, e-rickshaws and two-wheelers (food delivery), following a Supreme Court order of July 2017, which said that a driver’s licence is sufficient to operate a light motor vehicle  and a separate endorsement is not needed.

After receiving a related circular, the state transport department is examining the prevailing provisions of Motor Vehicle Acts and Rules. The department has also referred a related file to the government.

Dhavalikar said the particular circular from the Centre speaks about non-requirement of a badge for those driving commercial vehicles, in the future.

“The circular mentions that the states must do away with the issuing the badges for those driving commercial vehicles,” he reiterated, pointing out that the state government would proceed in accordance with the related moves by the Centre and other states.

Till recently, getting a commercial driver’s licence was necessary to drive any transport vehicle. Usually, people needed to wait for one year to get the commercial licence after obtaining a private driving licence. The central ministry feels that the new decision will end a lot of corruption involved in obtaining transport or commercial licences.