Heavy Driving Licence: The uncertainty surrounding the renewal of heavy driving licences, which had persisted for about a month, has now ended. The Transport Department has implemented a new system regarding Form 5A. Applicants will no longer be able to upload this form directly to the online portal. Under the new system, Form 5A will be sent from headquarters to the office of Deputy Transport Commissioner R.R. Sone, from where the forms will be distributed to registered driving training schools.
How to obtain Form 5A?
Under this new system, applicants seeking to renew their heavy vehicle licences must first complete mandatory training at a registered training school. Once the training is completed, the school will issue Form 5A and a training certificate to the applicant. The license renewal process will proceed only after this step. The primary objective is to verify that the individual seeking renewal has genuinely completed the required training.
Form will no longer be uploaded to the portal
Previously, the system allowed Form 5A to be uploaded directly to the online portal, which raised concerns regarding the authenticity of the documents. Under the new system, applicants cannot generate Form 5A themselves or upload it directly to the portal alongside other documents; the form must be submitted through the registered channel.
Curbing fake licenses
According to the Transport Department, while many services related to heavy vehicle licenses were moved online in August—making Form 5A mandatory for renewals—it was observed that some applications were being accepted without proper document verification. This loophole was exploited in some instances to upload fraudulent documents. Reports indicated that approximately 90 fake licenses had been issued; consequently, in response to ongoing complaints, changes have been made to the Form 5A processing procedure.
Applications to Proceed Only After Training
Applicants seeking to renew their heavy vehicle licences must now undergo mandatory training at a registered training school. Upon completion of the training, the school will issue ‘Form-5A’ and a certificate. This system ensures verification that the applicant has genuinely completed the required training.
What Did the Official Say?
According to RTO Inspector (RI) Santosh Kumar, the procedure regarding Form-5A for heavy license renewal has been clarified. The form will not be uploaded directly to the portal; instead, it will be issued to training institutes by the zonal office, and the license issuance process will proceed only after the training is completed.