Driving license in Hyderabad

I had my previous driving license from other state and its validity expired on on Jan 2016. Hence I had to apply for new driving license for
 2 wheeler with gear and LMV. I inquired from agent and the lowest quote I got was Rs 2500 and I will have to go to RTA OFFICE two times one for learner's license test and second for driving test.

I thought of giving a try on my own.From google search and RTA website , I came to know that first step was to clear online test. I booked online slot in Dec 2015. It costed me Rs 90 and paid through net banking online. Now the real challenge was how to prepare for exam. I got to know that there are books available to prepare exam and is available with Xerox centers in front of RTA office(mine was Attapur RTA) hence bought one for Rs 20 (Twenty). This book has around 800 questions with answers and was really helpful , had so many good information that a responsible driver should know. Since most of the information was new for me, I took some time to understand the questions and get to know the answers. It took me around 4 days with 2 hour each day to go through around 400 questions. After going through this book I was very confident that I know something with traffic rules. I would recommend all to read this book even if you are not applying driving license as it has many good information on traffic rules, signs etc.

Exam day arrived, reached with all xerox and original of my photo id and address proof to RTA. I had to approach to a counter to get a slip after showing my application form. from there I went to camera room where they took my photographs and digital signature.

I submitted my application form along with slip to a police officer who was conducting online test. My turn came for exam, I was given a desktop where he fed my application number and briefed me that I have 10 minutes to complete exam and will get 20 questions. Not sure if he told me that I need to have 12 answers correct in order to pass the exam. I started and voila, all questions were familiar to me, thanks to the book. after attempting 14 questions in five minutes I got a pop up on screen "Congratulations, you have passed the test...". I showed it to police officer who asked me to wait outside. After 30 minutes he called my name and gave a printout and this was my Driving License. 

Once we receive driving license , we are supposed to go driving test after a month. Validity of learners license is six months. I planned to go for driving test in Feb 2016 by paying fee online Rs 525 and driving track I selected was Kondapur. I googled a lot for driving test video and got couple of one from Gujarat, Bangalore and one for Kondapur track as well.  But I wasn't very sure what tests I had to give i.e. 8 track, H track etc for LMV and was totally clueless for two wheeler track.

Was also confused if I complete LMV test first, will they give me enough time to bring two wheeler and complete two wheeler test.

Driving test day arrived, reached to Kondapur RTA office, after few inquiries, I went to one counter to get slip. Went to another counter near driving test track and asked me to through the test by bringing my car. there are information on big boards what tests you have to take. I did 8 track test, H test and one more test where I was supposed to reverse back in narrow dead end lane, this I never saw in any online YouTube video. Completed successfully this LMV test. Now officer asked me to go for two wheeler test. A big question for me how do I get two wheeler immediately. I requested one gentleman to borrow his motorcycle and he kindly agreed. this was an easy one and finally went to officer to inform him that I have completed all my tests. Officer noted all my vehicle nos( four wheeler & 2 wheeler) and gave me a slip with a stamp which says I have passed driving test. almost after 10 days I received my original license through speed post.

Overall it was a very nice experience and felt good that I got driving license on my own. Hope this post should help to those who have plan to get driving license on his own. I haven't mentioned in details of documents required as its well explained in RTA site when you fill your Application form.

Thanks for reading this blog.

Transfer of PPF account from Post Office to SBI

I have opened my PPF account in the year 2004 at Post Office in New Delhi, subsequently I changed my job and relocated to Hyderabad. At the same time I got transferred my PF account from Post office, New Delhi to Post Office in Secunderabad. Believe me the process of transfer of PPF account from one post office to another post office is pretty fast(almost took 2 weeks).

However I was somewhat not very comfortable in carrying out activities related to PPF account with post office for example to update your passbook I need to stand in queue, when your turn comes the clerk will try to locate the register in which my PPF account entries are there(despite the fact that there is a PC on his desk). Not only that if you are paying via cheque, you need to go to Post office two times, second time to get your entries updated in your passbook(they will wait the cheque to be cleared before they put transaction in your passbook).

When I shifted my house from Begumpet to Attapur, maintaining the PPF account became a nightmare for me as my nearest Hyderguda post office didn't have PPF account facility. I started finding an alternative option for it. The only option I had to transfer the account to nearby nationalized bank. I zeroed on SBI bank.

I met to the branch manager of SBI bank and asked him the procedure for transfer of account from Post office to SBI. His first answer was Its not possible. My all dream shattered. I came back and tried to google about the possibility of such transfer. I got the information from SBI web site (try to search for PPF in SBI website) that PPF account can be transferred from Post Office to SBI and vice versa.

After 2-3 months I took the printout and again approached to Branch manager, this time he said I need to request for transfer at Post office where my account is. In my passbook also its mentioned that the above transfer is possible( i never read the detailed information in my passbook in past).

Then I approached to my post office and enquired with the clerk about the process. He again said its not possible. I immediately showed him the its written in the passbook. Then I was asked to talk to postmaster. Postmaster asked me to write a plain application , fill up the account transfer form SB(10)B and submit it with original PPF passbook. I also submitted photocopy of PAN, SBI passbook and address proof.

After one week I checked with Head post office and they informed me that its in process and by next Monday they will dispatch the transfer documents to SBI and may be after one week I can collect the passbook from SBI. Let me see what happens next.....

25-Jan-2012: Finally my PPF account got opened with SBI and I can see the PPF account balance online. I also collected a new PPF passbook issued by SBI.

Overall I am very happy with this transfer as I can deposit money and can see the balance online.

Thanks to all the people of Post Office and SBI which helped me during this transfer process.

My trip to Ellora

We planned to visit Ellora caves and Shirdi temple few days back from Hyderabad.I thought of taking the APSRTC tour package but dropped the idea because we prefer train journey.

I booked train ticket from Secunderabad to Auranagabad and from Manmad to Begumpet(Secunderabad) for return journey.

We started on Saturday evening from Secunderabad and reached Auranagabad on Sunday morning around 5 am. With the help of autorickshaw driver, we could find the budget hotel near to railway station.We took the budget hotel as we planned to leave for Shirdi same evening. Ellora caves are around 25 kms from Aurangabad. You have plenty of options to visit caves a)MTDC daily tour package (starts at 9.30 am and finishes at around 4 -5 PM) b) Taxi (it should cost you around Rs. 750) c) Auto (it costs around Rs. 500).

Apart from Ellora caves, one can visit Daulatabad Fort,a Shiv temple near to Ellora caves, Bibi Ka Makbara(replica of Taj Mahal). We first talked to an auto driver and was very co-operative and polite so decided to visit all places in auto. Weather was pleasant (22nd August 2010).

On the way to Ellora caves, we first visited Daulatabad fort. Its a very big one and probably its interesting for some one who loves history. We saw canons,museum, a temple (Bharat Mata) etc. We spent nearly 1 hour here and had to walk a lot.

Then we proceeded for Ellora caves.Before going to Ellora caves, auto driver took us to a Shiv temple(its a part of twelve Jyotriling). We could not go inside the temple as there was heavy rush due to Sravan month. Caves are around 1-2 kms from this Shiv temple. Parking space is very near to Cave no 16. We started visiting the Caves from 16. This is the biggest of all and very impressive. We were really stunned to see the stone work of our ancesters. How did they manage to make caves in rocky mountains and carve the statues. Its really amazing !!!. We then tried to visit other caves till cave no 6. By this time we were all exhausted as it needs too much of walking , climbing stairs. Overall it was too good and we really liked it.

After visting Ellora caves, Auto drivers took us to Bibi ka Makbara. Looks like Aurangjeb made the replica of Taj Mahal for his wife. Its a mini replica of Taj Mahal but its not made up of marble completely. Its worth of seeing.

We came back to our hotel around 2 PM after visiting all the above place.Our next destiny was Shirdi. Shirdi is around 154 Kms from Aurangabad and we have regular bus services from Central Bus stataion ,Aurangabad. We decided to start from Aurnagabad at 4 PM. We reached to Aurangabad Bus station at around 4.15 PM and in 15 minutes we got one bus for Shirdi.It took nearly 3 hours to reach Shirdi. More about Shirdi in my next blog....

Two wheeler Registration process in Hyderabad RTA

*****31-Oct-2017:Prashant has shared latest process in his blog. I am adding the link at the end of this blog.

This post was written in Feb 2010 and there seems to be some change in process, Please look at the comments posted by RajaSekhar (28 April 2017) in user comments section. Thanks*****

Last month I purchased a new Honda Activa (Two wheeler) in Hyderabad. I was a bit anxious before this deal as dealer said I need to take care of vehicle registration process. However he assured me that he has got some agents who can do this process of my behalf but will charge somewhere Rs 1000.

After enquiring the RTA Hyderebad site I was confident that two wheeler registration should not cost me more that Rs 200.I decided to give a try.

After a week of purchase of my vehicle, I went to RTA office, Kondapur. Finding the correct RTA office is a tough task. Dealer gave me the information about the RTA office and its address.

I was carrying all the documents provided by dealer 1. Form 20 2. Form 21 3. Form 22 4. Life Tax Receipt 5. Temp Registration certificate 6. Original Invoice 7. Insurance copy

Apart from this I carried following documents 1. Xerox of PAN card (Identity proof) 2. Address proof 3.Passport size photograph 4. Self addressed envelop(for dispatch of RC)

I also carried a pencil to take impression of Engine no and Chassis number.

I reached the office at 10.30 am. I noticed a paper pasted on the wall near to the counter which lists all the document required for registration. I arranged the documents according to the list and in the same order. Approached to the counter. The officer had a look at my application form and tried to search in the computer. It seems entry against my vehicle was not available so he asked me to wait for another 30 min. After 1 hour or so he accepted my application and received fee of Rs 185 (Registration charge 160 + Rs 25 towards postal charge) and issued one receipt. He asked me to go for Vehicle inspection. There was different queue for vehicle inspection. After waiting for around 15 minutes my turn came. vehicle inspector asked me to read the engine and chassis number. I had some difficulty in locating these numbers as its punched in the lower part of vehicle. One gentleman helped me in this task.
MVI asked me take the impression of Engine no and chassis no on the application number. I did it with great difficulty with 20% accuracy.The impression was not readable at all. Anyway I submitted this application form to MVI and he informed me that I should be getting the RC within 7 days by post. The entire process took me around 2 hours.

Exactly withing a week I received my RC by post.

Applying for new vehicle registration has been made very simple and we should take the benefit of it. there is no need to go through any agents. Hope this post help to the people looking for new vehicle registration.

Prashanth's blog: http://newbikereg.blogspot.in/2017/10/new-bike-registration-in-hyderabad.html

My First UK Trip - Second Part

The excitement of my first trip to UK was beyond to any one's imaginations.

Keeping my cabin baggage at my shoulders and holding my passport with boarding pass, I entered into aircraft, well greeted by crew staff and got a direction to move to my seat.

I had taken domestic flights in the past and was not so comfortable the seats. It was too congested for me and feel very uncomfortable as seats are not full push back. I had a notion in my mind that international flights must be having spacious seating arrangements because people travel for longer hours and of course its an international flight.

As I approached to economy class seats, I could see the people struggling to get into the seats. This was the first shock I got ! I could not digest that I will be seating in this congested seat for around 10 hours, that too I haven't slept last night. I felt like shouting... but controlled myself...I kept my baggage and seated myself in the middle seat with lot of patience. I have heard that British people have good patience so have I !

I tried to console myself that I have a small TV for me. I could push back my seat a little bit...

I got seated in the middle seat... so you can imagine how comfortable I was..

Flight took off, I kept my eyes on the watch to calculate how much time is left to reach Heathrow airport. I just played with the menu bar of TV and got map of the running flight. So I was able to see flight route, country/ocean over which the aircraft is flying, IST time, GMT time etc.

Now it was the turn of aircraft crew members to keep us happy. They served hot breakfast with small dosa. Dosa was really tasty but It was not dosa at all. They kept on serving juices, water, snacks, meal at the interval of 1-2 hours. I tried to take small nap but could not as seat was not at all comfortable for me and if at all I get to sleep, air hostess will start serving something to you. I tried to spend my time talking to colleague who was seating next to me.

Anyway my 10 hours journey went off well. There was a final announcement for fastening the seat belts as the aircraft was about to land. I have seen a documentary in Discovery channel about Heathrow airport. It showed Heathrow is one of busiest airport in the world and hardly there is a difference of 60 second between the take offs / landing of two aircraft, and how the aircraft are made to descend in a cylindrical route. It was very interesting documentary.

We got down at airport at around 12.10 PM(GMT) at terminal number 5. No idea where to go, just followed the crowd. After going down to 2-3 floors, we found one train and boarded the same. I another 2-3 minutes we got down and went for Immigration check. Officer asked some questions and finally we came to collect our checked in luggage. At the entrance of airport, office cab was waiting for us. There was not much rush at the airport unlike in India.

We happily departed for our final destination to 2 Moselwalk, Pereborough. It took around 2 hours and we reached at around 3 PM(GMT) and it should be around 7.30 PM in India. Our HR manager was waiting for us near the house. She showed us the rooms and other arrangements and got the keys of rooms.

I was really happy to see the House. Its really neat and clean, well carpeted. Even bathroom floor has carpet. Really surprised how could they maintain it neat and clean. Fantastic ! Awesome !

Once my HR manager left, I realized my wife must be waiting to hear from me. I took out my laptop, comfortably plugged in and started. I searched for User Id and password for WiFi connection in the welcome kit given by my manager. Configured my laptop successfully. I had a feedback from my colleagues that the our accommodation will have WiFi facility, so i was prepared for that.
Opened the yahoo mail and passed on the message to my elder brother who was waiting for me. In turn he passed on the message to our parents, my wife. I could not chat immediately as I did not installed either Yahoo messenger or gTalk. Could not install yahoo messenger as my Vista was having some problem. Installed gtalk successfully and it became the primary mode of communication with all my family members during my stay in UK. I did install sKype for video chatting but later on I found it very convenient to make international calls. Although rates are slightly higher but its vary comfortable and provides good quality of service.
I also used one free sms website to send mobile messages to relatives on the first day. Its really worked and was very helpful.
We had our first dinner as Maggie. I was wondering what could be the time. Looked at the watch .. It was around 8 PM(GMT) and still we could see Sun! I believe the Sunset happened somewhere around 9 PM. It was a pleasant weather in Peter borough, temperature could have been around 19-20 degree Celsius. Its summer here probably it is similar to winter in India. I thought if this climate is summer then imagine how the winter will be. Thank god I came in right time to UK. I have too much of problem of cold weather.
Tiredness and fatigue of journey made me to sleep at around 10 PM but got up early in the morning, may be around 5 am. It was Sunday. Switched my laptop and found my elder brother on Yahoo web messenger.I had my first voice chatting with brother on gTalk and felt relaxed. I talked at length , told him about my journey etc. I managed to call my wife to cybercafe for voice chatting and felt even more relaxed.
It was a nice start in UK.......

My First UK Trip - Before boarding the flight

I joined to my new company somewhere in first week of June 09. I was immediately made an offer to travel to Peterborough, UK for a short trip(around 6 weeks). Accepted it gracefully because of two reasons : one, it was my first onsite travel, two , it was a very short trip.

All the visa formalities were done in 3-4 days (Business Visa), but hold on, the dates of my departure was not yet confirmed !

It took another a week to confirm my dates and was supposed to travel in a short notice of 3 days. Oops ! I did not make any travel arrangements for my trip as the dates were not confirmed. I did not do any shopping as it would have cost me around Rs 15000 and did not want to block money due to uncertainty of traveling dates.

Since the day one I accepted the offer of trip, lot of questions were haunting my mind. What shall I be eating in UK being a pure vegetarian, what are the things I need to carry with me, how is climate will be, will it be too cold, what will be the mode of transportation to office, on the top how will be my 10 hrs flight journey to Heathrow airport from Hyderabad etc....

I talked to some of my colleague who has already been to UK and got some wonderful tips which really made my life comfortable(read my next blog). I was preparing the list of items to be carried from the day one although I was not sure whether I will travel or not.

I took off the next day when my tickets got confirmed and did lot of shopping keeping in my mind that the maximum checked in luggage weight is 23 kg (British airways) and cabin baggage is 6 kg(excluding your laptop).

I made sure that I am carrying a laptop with Wifi in working condition with microphone headset. I did buy a UK adapter because in India charger plug has round pin and can not be used in UK.This is very important becauase I immediately needed to pass on the message to my family in India once I reach to my destination I think gTalk/Yahoo messanger/sKype was the only convenient tool for me to do so. I did note down couple of free SMS message sites to send mobile SMS from laptop.

Then I started shopping for ration items like rice, pulse, spices,maggie(This is most important easy to cook item), soup packets, corn maize packets. I bought 2 litre pressure cooker as well to cook rice and pulse. I bought 0.5 kg Surf powder, Vimbar to wash dished,bathing soap, scrotch bites(to clean utencils). Important medicines like Calpol, Pudin hara, Cough Syrup, band aid, dettol was also in my buying list. The climate is very good during July - Aug in Peterborough, its summer there but Its like a winter of India and one need a light jacket and sweater. It rains very often so I had to buy an umbrella also(But I did not carry due to weight restrictions). I bought new jeans, T-shirts, a pair of formal shirts and trousers with new leather shoe... I should look professional before the client, right? I had to purchase suitcase and cabin bag as per the standards defined in British Airways web site. I did shopping whole day roaming in Hyderabad in my sweet car (Wagon R) all alone. As I sent my family back to home town few days back. While I was shopping one question was troubling me a lot : what will be net weight of my luggage once I do packing. So I bought one weighing machine also for Rs 500 from Home Town,Panjagutta. It was an average machine with error limit to +-0.5 kg.

I completed all my shopping as per my list and returned back to home at around 7 PM(I started at 10 am in the morning). Thanks to my wife who has prepared a good list of items before leaving to home, as if she has already visited to UK. Good wife will show their care to husband only when they need it.

Felt a bit relaxed, talked to wife and updated all my day activity, prepared maggie for dinner. Now the big task was a challenge for me ... packing and weighing. After an hour or so I started packing and put everything in big suitcase, including cloths. I put one pair of trouser and shirt , laptop, travel documents in cabin baggage. I happily started weighing the luggage. Whop ! the weight of checked in luggage came out to be 30 KG and cabin bag 6 kg(with laptop).I started reducing the amount of items like rice from 5 kg to 2.5 kg, pulse 3 kg to 1.5 kg, maggie from two jumbo pack to 1 pack, left salt packet, left green chick pie packet, left moong daal packet etc. I managed the weight of suitcase to be around 22.5 kg. I was not able to reduce further. For cabin baggage I left it as it is because I thought I will take out my laptop while it is weighed. Laptop itself was weighing more than 2 kg.

It was almost 1 am in the night and decided to sleep as I have to go to office next day and day after tomorrow(Saturday) I had early morning flight at 5.45 am.

I came from office early 4 pm from office and tried to sleep for few hours as I was supposed to start at 2.30 am in the morning for airport. Slept for 1-2 hours, talked to family and started preparing for journey at around 1 am. Cab came in time and reached airport by 3 am.

One of my colleague was also traveling with me. She gave me a call saying that her luggage is weighing more than 34kg and if I can manage to take some item.

We went to near to weighing machine, put almost all cloths in my my cabin bag, took some of food items and both of us could manage the weight of suitacse to 24 kg each, hoping that BA officials will allow. My cabin bag was weighing around 7 kg without laptop.

We went to British Airways counter, showed tickets, identity proof. They did allow our 24 kg checked in baggage and collected our boarding pass. They asked us to put our cabin bag in a box to verify whether cabin bag will fit into space provided in aircraft, but they did not weigh it, amazing....

It was 3.30 am. We filled up one custom for with details like passport number, our address during stay in UK, flight details etc. We proceeded for custom check. Custom officer did ask couple of questions, like where are we going, what is the purpose, when are we coming back etc and got clearance in 10 minutes. We went through security checking and reached to waiting lounge by 4 am. . We need to wait for another 1 hour 45 minutes ... At Shamshabad airport one can have facility of free WiFi connectivity for 45 minutes, but you need to contact Tata Indicom outlet at airport itself for keys. I did not try as I took small nap for around 45 minutes and spent another 1 hour in admiring new international airport....

It was around 5.20 am, BA airways staff started making announcements related to the flight. Started inviting the passenger in the sequence of Older passengers, Passengers having infants and kids. And finally seat number wise. The management skills showed by BA staff was appreciable. Finally our turn came and made a march for my FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT !

More in my next blog

Story of getting passport for my daughter

I have shifted to Hyderabad some three years back. When my daughter was born, I was wondering how easy it will be, applying for a new passport in Hyderabad. I googled a lot to know the procedure for applying a new passport for minor. I could not find the complete information. May be my blog will help to those persons in similar situation.

I purchased a passport application form from eSeva counter. After filling it I went directly to Passport office near to Secunderabad Railway station at around 9 am. To my utter dismay, I found that Passport office is not accepting any fresh application form in general category. Either I have to apply online or have to apply at some designated post offices. I immediately tried to file the application online ( June 2008). After saving few details at the passport office, I was supposed to select an appointment date. Again a big surprise, in the date options no date was getting displayed. I continued my effort for getting online appointment date but could not succeed for next seven days, may be there was some website issue. Then I decided to apply for fresh passport at Begumpet Post office. One fine day, I went to Post office with filled up form at 10 am. Again got another shock. The token counter was closed. They informed me that I should come before 9 am to receive the token. Next day I went to post office at 7.30 am. Wow ! around 30-40 people are already in queue. Anyway they started distributing tokens at around 8 am after checking the application form and photograph. When my turn came, they said application form is OK, but they can issue token only when they see my daughter. Oops ! I did not bring my daughter along with me for the simple reason she won't let us stay in one place for more than 2 hours after all she is only 1 year old. I again came back with empty hand. It was not at all possible for me to go to post office along with my daughter and wife and stay there for minimum 5-6 hours to complete the entire procedure including waiting time which starts since 6.30 am. I had no other option but to apply online. I again tried to get an appointment date and after few days I luckily got an appointment of 27 the June at 9 am. I heaved a sigh of relief. Took the printout of the application form. The appointment date and time is printed in the application form itself.

On 27th morning I reached to passport office at 8.45 am along with my wife and daughter. At the gate security people told us that they will allow only one person along with the applicant. Now the choice was either I will go inside or my wife will. I could not let my wife to go inside as she was not full aware of all the supporting documents of application form and I was little hesitant whether my daughter will stay with me for 2-3 hours. Anyway I took a decision and went inside making my wife to wait outside the office. We were made to sit in the waiting hall and after 30-45 minutes we were told to move to counter where the fresh queue was formed. There was good seating arrangement at the counter. I was probably the 10th applicant at the counter. Now my kid started troubling me. She was roaming here and there in search of my wife. Finally the officer at the counter started collecting forms at around 10 am. Luckily I got another seat (3rd from counter) when an accompanying person with the applicant left. Thanks to the couple in the front who understood my problem and offered the 3rd seat. My turn came and officer checked all the documents( The list of documents is available in the application form) and asked me to deposit fee(Rs 600) at the adjoining counter. When I was about to leave the counter, the officer told me that there was no need to bring the minor applicant. I thought if somebody could have told me at the entrance gate, I could have saved my little kid from all the suffering which she had for the last 2 hours. Anyway I was happy that the application form was submitted and came out with feeling of a great achievement. My wife greeted me well and congratulated me for my success after all she only knows how badly I made some futile effort to file the application.

I just entered to my home on 10th July. It must be around 8 PM and got a call from a person saying that he has come for Police verification. I asked him to come to my home. He asked xerox copy of all the documents which we have already submitted along with the form and one photograph. I had no idea that they will again ask for the same set of documents. I searched and luckily I found all. They took the thumb impression again and the verification process was over in 30 min. They took the signatures of our neighbours too.

I checked the online status of the application on 25 the July and saw the message that the passport is ready and will be delivered in a week time and so. Exactly after 7 days the passport was delivered to us.

We were really happy to see the passport in our hand. I must say that Passport office of Hyderabad is really quick in issuing the passport and hassle free if you know the complete procedure. Of course finding the complete procedure is a tough task. One should go through all the instructions and list of documents required for the application carefully.