Hyderabad: The Telangana Transport Department’s Vigilance and Enforcement Wing has launched a crackdown on driving test centres across the state after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) checks uncovered alleged irregularities, including issuance of driving licences without applicants appearing for tests, presence of private agents inside transport offices and the reported use of secret codes to alert staff about surprise inspections.The findings revealed that, in several instances, driving tests were either conducted improperly or bypassed altogether, enabling applicants to secure licences without demonstrating their driving skills. Officials also found cases where licences were issued despite applicants not being physically present at the test tracks.Taking serious note of the violations, joint transport commissioner (Vigilance and Enforcement) M Chandrashekar Goud issued a comprehensive set of directions to all driving track in-charges to tighten monitoring and ensure transparency in the licensing process.“The department received information through ACB inspections about serious irregularities at driving test tracks and RTO offices. Licences were being issued without proper tests, applicants who were not physically present were still getting licences, there was collusion with private agents, and even secret warning codes were allegedly being used whenever senior officers visited,” Goud said.Under the new instructions, every applicant must personally appear at the driving track on the scheduled date, and their identity must be verified using Aadhaar or any govt-issued identity proof before the test begins.Candidates must complete the entire prescribed driving test and demonstrate essential skills such as starting and stopping the vehicle, reversing, maintaining lane discipline, and obeying traffic signals. Passing candidates merely by allowing them to sit behind the steering wheel or drive for a short distance has been strictly prohibited.The Vigilance and Enforcement Wing has also ordered continuous operation of CCTV cameras during tests. Any attempt to switch off surveillance systems or interfere with recordings will be treated as serious misconduct.Private agents, brokers, middlemen and representatives of driving schools have been barred from entering driving test tracks and transport offices. Employees found colluding with them or accepting payments will face suspension pending inquiry.Another major issue highlighted by the department was the alleged use of secret codes and signals to warn staff about the arrival of senior officials or ACB teams. Goud directed track in-charges to eliminate such practices and held them personally accountable for ensuring compliance.Officials have also been instructed to maintain proper records, reconcile physical registers with digital data daily, and submit monthly compliance reports to the Transport Commissioner’s office. Warning of strict consequences, Goud said departmental action would be initiated against any official found violating the instructions.
