Starting August 18, all driving licence tests in Mangaluru will be held at the newly developed automated driving test track at Pajir, near Mudipu.
Equipped with advanced sensors and real-time monitoring systems, the facility is designed to ensure higher accuracy, transparency, and objectivity in assessing applicants’ driving skills. Officials said the move marks a major step in the state government’s initiative to modernise and digitise transport services.
Though the track had been inaugurated earlier, its use was delayed after the surface turned slippery, sparking safety concerns. Authorities have since carried out cleaning and maintenance, making it ready for smooth operations.
The existing test ground at Vamanjoor will conduct its final round of assessments on August 16. From then on, the entire process will be shifted to Pajir. Senior RTO and Deputy Commissioner of Transport, GK Mallad, confirmed that all candidates with slots booked on or after August 18 must report directly to the new venue.
Transport officials believe the automated system will eliminate subjectivity often associated with manual testing, while also speeding up the evaluation process. Candidates will be assessed on a range of skills including parking, lane discipline, and handling gradients, with results captured and recorded digitally.
Authorities added that the upgraded facility will improve efficiency, reduce complaints of bias, and enhance public trust in the licensing system. The Pajir track is among several such projects being rolled out across Karnataka as part of a broader digital transformation of RTO services.