Kerala driving test applicants face two-month delays despite new rules

Applicants seeking driving licenses in Kerala continue to face extended waiting periods stretching beyond two months, despite departmental directives intended to expedite the process and address the mounting backlog of test requests.

The Motor Vehicles Department had issued fresh guidelines to streamline operations and reduce delays at testing centers across the state. However, the directive has encountered sluggish implementation on the ground, leaving numerous applicants stranded in queues.

Sources attribute the persistent delays to slow execution of the new protocols by driving test centers. The failure to swiftly operationalize the departmental instructions has compounded existing backlogs rather than relieving them, frustrating citizens attempting to obtain licenses through the regular channels.

The situation highlights recurring challenges in Kerala's licensing infrastructure, where capacity constraints and procedural inefficiencies have periodically created bottlenecks. Observers note that unless the department ensures prompt and comprehensive implementation of its directives across all test centers, applicant grievances are likely to persist and potentially worsen during peak demand periods.

The Motor Vehicles Department has not issued public statements regarding revised timelines or corrective measures to address the implementation gap.