LUCKNOW, April 15 -- More than a year after a crackdown by the district administration, touts and brokers continue to operate with impunity at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Alambagh. These intermediaries are allegedly charging up to 10 times the official fees for driving licences (DLs) and openly promising to bypass mandatory driving tests, an investigation by Hindustan Times has found. The inflated charges are being levied on applicants seeking new learner's permits as well as those converting their permits into permanent licences This comes despite a surprise inspection by district magistrate Vishak G Iyer in March 2025, during which several brokers were detained and multiple unauthorised online service centres operating without Jan Seva Kendra registration were identified and sealed, just outside the RTO office. Police complaints were also filed against individuals found engaging in RTO-related work illegally. Touts active inside RTO premises During a visit to the RTO office in Alambagh and one on Deva Road, our correspondent found brokers not only operating from cyber cafes outside the premises, but also sitting inside the RTO building. One such broker, identifying himself as Rajesh Chandra (name changed), approached the correspondent and asked, "Kya hua bhaiya, DL banwana hai?" When asked about the charges, he said that Rs.5,000 would be required for a learner's licence. He further added that an additional Rs.2,500 would be charged, out of which Rs.2,000 would be paid to "babu" (officials) and Rs.500 would be his commission. According to him, the applicant only needs to provide an Aadhaar number and a mobile number linked to it. The total amount, he claimed, includes both the learner's licence and the permanent DL after the stipulated period. As per official norms, a learner's licence is valid for six months, and an applicant can apply for a permanent licence 30 days after getting the learner's licence. When questioned about the mandatory driving test, the broker dismissed the requirement, saying: "No test has to be given. Even the automated test centres set up at BKT need not be visited...the entire process will be managed internally." A similar pattern was observed outside the RTO premises, particularly in the complexes that were inspected by the DM last year. Several establishments, functioning as cyber cafes, were allegedly found facilitating illegal DL services. At one such shop operating in the complex, right in front of the RTO office, Abhishek Sharma (name changed) quoted Rs.4,500 for processing the DL, along with an additional Rs.2,300 as his service charge, taking the total to Rs.6,800 for obtaining a licence, from learner's stage to permanent, without any driving test. For those seeking only a learner's licence, he quoted Rs.1,500. RTO (Lucknow) Sanjay Tiwari denied the allegations, stating that the department has maintained strict vigilance against the involvement of touts. "Since the DM's inspection last year, no such activities are being carried out here. The cyber cafes outside the premises are only for filling forms; they do not make DLs," he said. He added that the entire process has been made online and urged applicants to complete the procedure themselves rather than relying on intermediaries. During the March 2025 inspection, several unauthorised centres, operating as fake Jan Suvidha Kendras, were sealed. Eight suspected touts were detained and legal action was initiated against at least one individual involved in illegal RTO operations. HT has been trying to contact DM Vishak G Iyer, but neither he nor his team has responded....