Authorities claim that the majority of previous applicants were students or people who were swiftly hired abroad and had to relocate there, requiring an international driver’s license for their stay.
Up to 4,576 International Driving Permits (IDPs) were given by the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) this year between January 1 and November 15. According to officials, this increase is mostly attributable to the rush of people looking to travel overseas for brief periods of time. The RTO issued 4,424 IDPs in 2022 as opposed to 1,689 in 2021. IDP numbers decreased to 826 in 2020, primarily as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but increased to 3,607 in 2019.
The majority of the previous applicants, according to the authorities, were students or people who were swiftly recruited abroad and had to relocate there, requiring an international driver’s license for their stay. “But over the last two years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of tourists applying for international driver’s licenses,” an RTO official stated.
According to Sanjeev Bhor, Pune Regional Transport Officer, “there has been a notable increase in the number of applicants for international driving licenses.” In the past, people who were studying or who had found work overseas considered it necessary for their everyday needs. But during the last two years, we’ve noticed that a lot of travelers are seeking for international driver’s licenses.”
Over the previous two years, the number of applicants for international driving licenses has nearly doubled, according to RTO authorities. Additionally, since hiring cars and drivers has become a costly proposition, many travelers around the world find it advantageous to have foreign driving licenses on them. As a result, several Punekars choose to save money by renting automobiles and traveling alone to various destinations. For an international driver’s license, the applicant must take an exam; nevertheless, the RTO verifies the applicant’s driving record, passport, and country visa prior to issuing the official document. The applicant can obtain the international driver’s license in a day by logging in through the “Sarthi” service online, uploading legitimate documents, and paying online fees.
With the exception of heavy vehicles in nations that have an agreement with the Indian government, the applicant’s driving license allows them to operate any kind of vehicle. India has agreements with the United States of America, South Africa, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia, among other nations. The international driver’s license has a one-year validity span and is even regarded as identification in certain countries.
According to Bhor, “There is no test required, and the international driving permit is issued within a day of the documentation process being completed.” According to Bhor, the permit is only good for a year, after which time an international visitor must apply for a local driver’s license in order to continue driving in the other country.
Michelle D’Souza, a tourist in Germany, said, “I applied for and received my international driver’s license in a single day. I had electronically filed the necessary paperwork. I had to pay a lot of money for drivers on my previous international excursions, but this time, additional costs will be far lower, freeing up funds for me to visit other places.
Source- Hindustan times
