Ahmedabad: Several hundred applicants across the 39 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Gujarat faced significant inconvenience on Wednesday after the Sarathi server, which powers the state transport department's online services, suddenly crashed. The technical glitch impacted RTO offices in major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, and other districts, bringing all driving licence-related services to a complete standstill.
Applicants Forced to Return Without Tests
As a result of the server failure, many applicants who had traveled long distances and secured prior appointments were compelled to return home without appearing for their scheduled driving tests. The disruption affected a wide range of essential services, including learner's licence computer exams, driving track tests for permanent licences, renewals, and endorsements.
“With the system inaccessible, RTO staff could neither process applications nor conduct tests,” said a senior RTO officer from Ahmedabad.
Recurring Problem Causes Frustration
This is not the first time such a failure has occurred. Officials acknowledged that the servers have malfunctioned previously, sometimes remaining down for three to four consecutive days. The latest breakdown led to long queues and confusion outside RTO premises, as applicants waited for hours hoping that services would resume. “Tempers flared as many had taken leave from work and found no alternative arrangements in place,” said an RTO inspector from Gandhinagar.
Restoration Efforts Underway
Transport department officials confirmed the technical fault and stated that efforts were underway to restore the Sarathi system, though no specific timeline for recovery was provided. In the meantime, RTO authorities have urged citizens requiring in-person visits to postpone their appointments and return in approximately one week.
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