India, April 15 -- LUCKNOW 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 operatin...