Since the relaxation of the recent lockdown in July, the Road Safety and Transport Authority’s (RSTA) base office in Samtse has been able to conduct only two driving tests so far. While a few of the aspiring drivers in the district have managed to get themselves a driving license, many still remain in the queue to even book a driving test. Worried over the matter, people want the base office to increase the frequency of driving tests in the district.
Nineteen-year-old Sukden Subba from Tsirang has been learning to drive from one of the private driving training institutes in Samtse. Just two months into his training, Sukden can complete the practical test required to get a driving license with ease.
However, he is worried about getting a slot for the driving test.
“Unlike other districts, here, RSTA conducts driving tests only once in a month. That is why we have to wait for a while,” he said. “Aspiring drivers in Thimphu have more chances to get the driving license as they can do the driving test every week.”
Unable to book a driving test in the district, some of the driver trainees have left for other dzongkhags.
Bhimlal Tamang, a Driving Instructor at a private training institute in Samtse says some of his students have left for Thimphu and Phuentshogling to carry out their tests. “For some of them, it has been almost a year without getting the opportunity to sit for a driving test,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Samtse are requesting for the RSTA to increase their driving test frequencies.
“Some of my friends said they’re discouraged to learn driving and applying for driving tests as they feel it is a lengthy process,” said Deepak Chettri.
Sonam Pelden also feels the same. “It will be good for us if driving tests are held twice or thrice in a month.”
Moreover, many are also not aware of the online registration for the driving tests which opens on the RSTA website once a month.
The RSTA base office in Samtse however said that they cannot conduct driving tests regularly like other districts due to limited manpower.
According to Bikash Sharma, the Motor Vehicle Inspector at the RSTA Base Office in the district, there are only two employees in the office.
“As per our rules, the committee to conduct a driving test should have at least three RSTA officials. But here, we are only two,” he said. “We can call RSTA officials from Phuentshogling but right now, most of them are engaged in escorting Indian vehicles along the Indo-Bhutan highways.”
For now, he added that they are conducting driving tests once every month with the help of a few traffic police. The matter is however expected to ease soon as there are plans to establish another RSTA base office in the district. It will be established in the Tashichhoeling Dungkhag.
According to the RSTA base office, Samtse Dzongkhag today has nearly 45,000 motor vehicles.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
