Pune RTO services have been disrupted by fresh technical glitches on the VAHAN portal, delaying vehicle ownership transfers, vehicle testing, driving licence appointments and permit renewals just weeks after the system resumed operations following a month-long shutdown.
Applicants seeking to transfer vehicle ownership have reported that important fields, including engine horsepower and wheelbase details, are appearing blank on the portal. Applications cannot be submitted when these fields remain incomplete, leaving several transactions pending, according to a report by Pune Mirror.
The disruption is affecting more than ownership transfers. Vehicle testing and passing procedures have reportedly faced delays for several days, while applicants have struggled to secure driving test appointments before their learner’s licences expire. A delayed appointment could affect the process of obtaining a permanent driving licence.
Other services reportedly affected include autorickshaw permit renewals, removal of hypothecation entries after repayment of vehicle loans and ownership transfers involving widows. These services depend on online entries and approvals, meaning portal errors can prevent applicants from completing routine documentation even when there is no issue with their underlying paperwork.
Pune RTO employees told Pune Mirror that complaints about portal-related problems had increased over the previous two to three days. Transport documentation agents also said they had experienced intermittent technical difficulties over several months, indicating that the latest disruption follows recurring problems rather than being an isolated interruption.
The VAHAN platform and other digital services used by the transport department are maintained by the National Informatics Centre. Periodic upgrades and technical modifications to the system can affect its speed and performance, according to the report. However, the specific cause of the latest data-field errors was not identified in the supplied account.
The disruption is particularly significant because the RTO’s services have already returned from a month-long shutdown. A fresh interruption soon after the restart is leaving vehicle owners, applicants and agents dependent on a system that is required for ownership records, licensing procedures and commercial transport permissions.
Attempts to contact Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad for comment were unsuccessful, according to Pune Mirror. The report did not include a confirmed timeline for a technical fix or details of any temporary process for clearing applications held up by the portal errors.
The immediate administrative priority will be to restore the missing vehicle data fields, enable submission of pending applications and address delays in testing, licensing and permit services. Until the portal functions normally, applicants may continue to face delays in completing essential transport-related documentation.
