Driving license renewal at ahmedabad RTO and slot booking

Recently my brother got his driving license renewed at ahmedabad (amdavad) RTO. Putting the whole experience here for everyone.

You will find too many contradicting / incomplete / ambiguous information on various government sites. Below is what we learnt from the process.

Assumption: No information change except renewal. I.e. no address change, name change etc. If you do have then you will need to follow last step.

Microsoft IE or Edge browsers are recommended.

Step 1: Fill your application online. 

Go to https://sarathi.nic.in:8443/nrportal/sarathi/DLChangesCA.jsp. This link keeps going down. If it does not work or take too long then try different browsers or wait for some time.

Select your state, RTO and enter current DL number. For example if you have DL GJ01/12345/00 then select Gujarat, GJ01 and 12345 as license number.

You may or may not get result back (i.e. License number not found). IT IS OK.  If it finds your details then you are good, if it dose not then empty form will open. Just enter all details on available fields. Don't worry about non-editable fields. Worst case (happened to my brother) they find license number but linked with another person. It is still OK. Search again with full license number including /00 in above example and it will say number not found. Continue filling all details.

In "Class of vehicles" section, select all the classes you have in your current license and check "Re Validate" checkbox for each.  If you do not see this section then use Microsoft IE or Edge browser.

Select appropriate document lists and submit.  You should receive an web application number.

Note: At the time of writing this blog, you have to fill application form from scratch again at RTO, so do not spend too much time here. It is required for next step.

Step 2: Book your appointment slot. 

Go to https://sarathi.nic.in:8443/SOWSlotBook/faces/ApplPage.jsp?id=dlservice. Same as pervious, this link also keeps going up and down.

Enter your web application number from step 1, enter other details and go next.
Select desired 1 hour slot on desired date.

Note that you may actually need more than 1 hour there so book accordingly.

Step 3: 

Take printout of your slot booking from step 3. No need to take printout of web application as it is not asked anywhere.

Slot booking printout is manually (visually) checked by security person while entering the building. After that it is not checked anywhere.

Step 4 (optional - it will save your time there): 

Go to http://rtogujarat.gov.in/form.php
Fill DL renewal form  (Form 9 as of writing this blog) and take printout. Or take blank printout and fill it with hand.
Do not worry about questions for which you don't know the answers (like officer who issued current license etc).

You will need to attache your photo on this form.

Step 5: Appointment day

Things to carry

• Current original license
• Photocopy of license
• Couple of more photocopies of your identity proof and address proof (this was not asked to my brother but safe to keep it) - Pan card or voter card or passport works for both. 
• Cellotape, small scissor and glue stick (important -- or you have to pay extra money and unnecessary back and forth)
• Black pen
• 3 passport size photo (only 1 is required though)
• Fees (500 within 30 days of expiry or 1500 if more than 30 days of expiry)

Plan to reach RTO al least 30 min before your time.

Once you are at RTO, straight go to window number 1 (not to the place where you will apply) and collect forms - Application form, Medical certificate and smart card form.

Now go to Single Window application place (ask around if you don't find it). If your time is already up then go inside by showing your slot booking printout to security person there.

Once inside, fill the forms.

Application form: If you have completed it already in step 4 then just keep this blank form with you. Otherwise you will need to fill it. You will find plenty of chairs inside application room.
Medical certificate: Not required for renewal.
Smart card form: You will need to fill it.

After this, go to verification window ( i believe # 8) within room. Again, ask around. Person over there will verify your forms. If everything is fine then he/she will ask you to tap your current license at the middle of the application form. Tap it. Again go the the same person, now he/she will put signature.

Now you can go to single window system. There will be a security person and he may ask you to sit in a line. He will let few people go inside as and when window is available.

Once inside, you will see that the whole web application (step 1 above) is done again by that person.

He/She will then guide you to window to take photo and pay fees.

After that you have to drop your final application with receipt at window A / B / C / D. Take back your receipt

Congrats. You are done. Wait for your license to arrive at your address via post.

When your best friend at work leaves organization

And finally the day came when my workplace suddenly seems to be so lonely, calm and empty (for me). Last Friday, one of my best friend left Infosys. Its not that I do not have good friends in Infosys, but at this client location, he was the only one.

We had conquered many battles (releases in IT language) together in last 10 years in Infy. From last 5 months (day I came at my current location) we both had enjoyed our day at work even under tremendous pressure.

Today, suddenly I feel that I am all alone. Suddenly I don’t find anyone with who I can argue on almost every topics. Suddenly I feel like empty. I feel like this is just a *work* place and I need to get out of here as soon as I am finished with my work every day. Suddenly I feel to move to locations where I have good friends. Although the moment I came to know about his decision, I knew that this would happen, but the fact is right now I am feeling so sad and gloomy at my workplace which I have never witnessed before.

I remember first day of my college and first day of Infosys when I as all alone but very enthusiastic about new place and making new friends. I made very good friends who became part of my social life. Every time at every work place I had good friends so this situation is little odd for me.

On positive note, probably current vacuum will be filed with new friends, new joy and new experience as time goes. Probably life will find its own way and I will start enjoying my work place again.

Luck - How much I got ?

Same old grandma's story. I have no luck. I was in that mood today morning. Then remembered the same story..

When I was a kid - somewhere around 10 - I got selected for one of the prestigious science competition in my town. Getting selected itself is a big achievement. I was so happy. I told everyone that I am so Lucky. My school needs to prepare my formal nomination (administrative task)  and fill it for competition. But having a process oriented school, somehow it got delayed and I could not participate.

I was so depressed, blaming my luck and school. Then I met my classmate. He came and congratulated me !!!!! I was surprised. He told "you got selected !! what an achievement. There are number of students from our school who are working so hard to get selected but not getting any luck". 


I was lucky !!  yes. Apparently I was. I had achieved something which most of my schoolmates could not. Although I could not make it for final round, that does not mean my luck of getting selected is gone. It was an eye opener for me.

When it comes to a bad luck, look at those who are having worst luck. You are still lucky. 

Khiwansara Patil (Thergaon) hospital for Birth certificate (Aditya Birla)

If you have new born from Aditya Birla hospital and looking for where to collect your baby's birth certificate? Your frustration is totally true. I spend almost 3 days just to find where is Thergaon / Khiwansara Patil hospital or at least it's working number to get there.

Working hours : 9 to 12 morning.


Below is my research in two lines with driving direction - thanks to Vivek Chauhun.

Driving direction from Aditya Birla Hospital click here.

Wikimapia map

Google Map

From Dange chowk take road to kalewadi phata…

at around 1.5 km from dange chowk u will see Akshay park society on right side.. also 2 PCMC water tanks are visible…

If you travelling from Kalewadi Phata towards Dange Chowk, look out for MacD on left side, take next lane on left side just after MacD.

Take the road along with Akshay park society through the White cemented entrance without gates…

At the end you find the swimming pool at dead end.. hospital is on left side.

Note: People have reported that now-a-days they are also asking Aadhar of parents.







View Khivansara Patil Hospital, Thergaon in a larger map

Swine flue (H1N1) and Authorities

As of 22nd Sep 09, Pune has again started becoming epicenter of H1N1 in India. Me and my Friends were wondering, what made cases to rise again and what steps are being taken.

Immediately what came to my mind is.... Public gathering in large numbers at multiple places without any precautions and restrictions. Why and how? What Maharastra and Pune authorities doing??

Authorities :- I think they are busy cooking politics. They don't care and probably they don't understand or I am getting feel that they are not capable of understanding. 

First of all, they along with media spread big time panic in pune people but with very little preventative actions to prevent further spread of the H1N1. Nobody actually traced back to each and every person who came in contact with affected people. 

Secondly, they allowed big public gathering like Ganesh and Garba. Religious activities are good thing and should not be stopped but any support things around it which can spread this flue should not be allowed. In my society, people did Ganesh sthapan and puja but they all agreed to avoid any gathering and celebration. This is right thing to do. But I think pune authority does not have courage and capability to stop unnecessary gathering related to religion. 

With Election on horizon, these politicians do not want to play with people's religious sentiments. This makes things even worse looking at series of religious festivals till Dec end, election in 3 states which will involve huge rallies from so called leaders.

It's only on our (normal people)'s hand to control it. It is unfortunate to have such authorities.

Politics -- what if it forced on you ??

For quite some time I am wondering that is it required to know and play politics everywhere in the world except home???  

Why people are not straightforward. Why they try to make their way using someone's head... why they force thier political thought on someone elese who does not like politics. 

Linked in -- how about this?

Jagrut Mehta Linked In profile - Isn't is great ????