A day in RTO Indiranagar, Bangalore

Place: RTO Indiranagar, Bangalore.

Mission: To get International Driving Permit (IDP) without help of any agent.

After a very long time, I had to get some work done from a government office and that too RTO. I was going to Bali, Indonesia and thought it would be good to get International Driving Permit (IDP) so that I can drive there freely. So I decided not to go to an agent and try this without bribing. RTO Karnataka website has all the information regarding the same http://rto.kar.nic.in/IDP-PROCcss.html also I browsed internet for more info and found that following are things one need to get an IDP-

1. Original Driving License (1 photocopy)
2. Passport + Visa + Air Ticket (1 photocopy of each)
3. 4 recent photographs
4. Filled Form CMV4-A (available of RTO website).
5. Medical certificate in form of CMV1 and CMV1A (available of RTO website).
6. Address in the driving license MUST fall in the jurisdiction of that RTO. This can be checked here http://rto.kar.nic.in/Jurisdictioncss.html 
7. IDP fee of 500/-

So I got everything ready except the medical certificate. I had read in some blog that there is a doctor just outside RTO who'll sign this certificate for just 50/-. His job is just that :). So I was all set for it.

Next day I reached BDA complex Indiranagar. Before I could park my bike there, I was surrounded by agents asking what I had come there for. I just asked one of them how much they charged for IDP. 2500/- INR was the answer. So I started my search for doctor who could sign my medical certificate. Even after 20 minutes search I could not find one. So I went to an agent and asked if he could get my medical certificate. He first asked if it was for DL or IDP. I told him IDP and he asked me 300/- INR. I said that was more for medical certificate. He said and I quote "Kya saar vides jaa raha and itna bhi nahi de sakta"... Finally I negotiated for 250/- which seemed more but I didn't have much time as I had to go to office as well. He took 250/- and my filled CMV1 & CMV1A forms and said that he'd be back in 10 minutes. I forgot to take his contact number. He did not show up even after 30 minutes and I started getting worried. I went to another agent who was with that guy and asked if he had his number. That guy refused and said "wo to bhaag gaya" and was laughing. I decided to wait for some more time as didn't have much choice. After another 15 minutes he appeared with medical certificate.

I took everything and went directly to RTO. There one lady was at help desk who I asked for IDP office and she directed to room 6 after getting challan of 500/- . I took the receipt of 500/- and went to the IDP desk and handed all my documents. He looked at them one by one slowly signing every photocopy. He asked where the Visa was and I told it's Visa on Arrival. He again asked if there's any valid Visa and I showed him USA one which still was valid. He asked to get a photocopy of that which I immediately did. After that I again he started scanning all documents one by one. He asked where the 1000/- Rs NSC (National Savings Certificate) was. I was not at all prepared for this. I told him that there was no mention of this on your website. He told if you take the form from RTO, it clearly says that you have to provide one 1000/- Rs NSC. There was no crowd so I tried arguing with him for sometime. Finally he told me to take all documents and get it signed by his boss who was sitting in some other room. I went to his boss who again scanned all the documents one by one and asked where 1000/- Rs NSC was. I again explained the same thing and this guy understood and signed the docs without NSC. I went back to the IDP desk and gave him all the docs. He asked me to come back after 5 days to collect the IDP. I had read that it's ready the same day and I didn't have that much time as I was going to my home place and after coming back I was flying. So asked him if it could be done earlier citing all the problems I had. But he simply refused telling that they are short-staffed. I finally asked if I can authorize someone to collect it on my behalf. After some hesitation, he got ready for that and took my signature stating that I already received IDP :D. I left then to office at 1:30 PM.

I asked my good friend Paurush to collect IDP on my behalf after 6 days. He went there and after waiting for around 1 hour, he received it!!! So I got it all done in 500/- + 250/- Rs only. Of course lost half working day of mine and some hours of my friend but should we all not do this?