The motor vehicle department, through a flurry of unconventional reforms, has already earned the wrath of the public. The popular disregard for the department is not an overnight incident. Years of running the department by anointing corruption is the real cause of the present worries.

Every vehicle owner in Kerala would have surely encountered the torturous procedures associated with the MVD. Although many procedures are now available online, most people still rely on agents to complete the MVD process. Things are easy when it comes to agents. Pay accordingly and just pass the driving test. All other works will be taken care of by them, leaving little scope to worry for the candidates.

This is now the fixed working format of the department. If brought any reforms, objections would arise from all quarters. It has thus turned out that only a competent official or administrator could upend the working format of the department. Departing from the usual norms, MVD made serious reforms in driving tests this year and the situation turned worse since then.

A total of 9.45 lakh people are still waiting for driving tests after paying a whopping Rs 1.30 crore. Driving tests have not been conducted in Kerala for the last four days due to the strike of the driving school students' union and others. The transport minister, who is assigned to solve the quandary, is currently touring a foreign country.

The driving test is conducted at a total of 86 centers. Till April, 100 tests were conducted every day. It was reduced to 30 at once in the name of reform. Things started to go awry from here on.

Realising the flub, the driving centres were increased to 40. Even after this, it is still unsure whether the driving license will be conducted for the lakhs of candidates who are still in wait mode. Reforms are the need of the hour, but it is too ambitious to overturn the existing system without making the necessary arrangements for reform.

According to the rules, those who have successfully passed the learners test should appear for a driving license within six months. The government could solve the current quagmire with just one amicable talk with driving school associations and the concerned authorities. This should not be dragged.