One day in the life of a RTO in India...

I had my personal appearance appointment for my driving license today. I along with my friend reached Mandaveli (Chennai locality) RTO at 0950 am (we were informed a day earlier to be at the spot by 10 am) only to be told by the official there that the slots for the driving test for the day are over, and that we would have to come back again after another week. Our representative from the driving class told us first that there is no other option, but he was not at all convincing in his reply. Actually a part of a greater ploy where candidates are initially asked to come at 10 am and then upon reaching they would be told that they were late and would be accomodated upon shelling out a couple of hundred bucks. The same modus operandi, and we were asked to pay 250 bucks. Seeing our reluctance he began convincing us. We called our driving instructor and then further discussions between those 2 people ensured we dont have to shell out anything extra. And then the eternal wait started.

For the next three and a half hours, sitting on the footpath, we analyzed most 4-wheelers that crossed our way. Their features, all the finer aspects and the traffic pattern in the area. Saw 4 new 2-wheelers getting registered, without even the mandatory official check. 3 Vehicles getting their number plates painted from the guy who set his shop under the tree beside us. Saw people coming from various parts of the city, most of them on loss-of-pay, for their appointments only to find that the official wouldn't keep up. The same police vehicle crossing the street twice, Tea shops doing brisk business, vehicles parked in a complete lack of order, and of-course a majority of touts lurking around everywhere.

Thank god, I had company! Three and a half hours, 2 cigarettes (my friend smokes!), 2 teas and 2 soft drinks later, it was made known that we have been issued driving licenses. And that we would have to come back again a couple of days later to get our photographs taken. The RTO inspector did not make an appearance, but still our application has been blessed with his initials (I dont even know, if the signature is genuine or forged). As we were driving back to office, the merits of the system in US, kept continually playing in my mind, along with one another thought. GOD SAVE INDIA!