The Office of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) Bhaktapur on Saturday launched a trial centre for driving licence, with 77 applicants taking the test for two wheelers on the opening day.

Although the DoTM office in Jagati, Bhaktapur has been conducting written tests for two and four wheelers since its establishment in March this year, it was unable to hold trails because of space constraint.    

The new trial centre has come into operation four months after the Madhyapur Thimi Municipality reached an agreement with Easy Way Travel Center on providing space for trial. The trial exam is currently limited to two-wheelers, the office will start the practical test for four wheelers soon, officials said.  

The opening of the centre is expected to benefit people living in Bhaktapur as well as Kavre and Sindhupalchok districts country in obtaining a new driving licence and getting the old one renewed.

Anoj Ghimire, chief of DoTM in the district, said around 300 service seekers are benefiting from the centre daily. “This facility will save people’s time as they no more need to go to Kathmandu,” said Ghimire. Another attraction at the centre, according to him, is that unlike in Kathmandu and Lalitpur applicants need not pay separately for the use of vehicle during the trail exam. 

Director General at the DoTM Rup Narayan Bhattarai said that with the services from the Bhaktapur centre would ease off pressure at its facilities in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. According to the DoTM , more than 500 people take driving tests for licence in Kathmandu each day. The DoTM had opened its offices in Chabahil and Thulo Bharyang in Kathmandu in January.