UP Transport Department on Digital Road: K Ravinder Naik

K Ravindra Naik

Information and Communication Technology enabled services by the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department have drastically reduced human interface in the Regional Transport Offices (RTO). Today, 42 per cent of the department’s revenue is generated online, says K Ravinder Naik, Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN) .

Please share an overview of eGovernance initiatives by the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department (UPTD).

With the digital and technological transformation of the department, corruption isn’t possible be it any stage. Today, all 77 transport offices in the State are fully computerised and being run on ‘Vahan’and Sarathi’ software applications developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). Vahan deals with vehicles-related activities like registration, fitness, taxation, permit and enforcement. Sarathi deals with licence-related activities like granting learning licence, driving licence and International Driving Permit (IDP).

Computerised learner license test has been started as a pilot project in RTO Lucknow, and now it is being run in all RTO/ARTO offices.

Applicants take Learning License test on computer. There are 15 random questions from software. The candidate has to correctly answer minimum nine questions. Questions include topics like traffic signs, signals, rules of road regulations, precautions needed while driving, drivers’ duties during road accidents and documents need while driving. Result is declared on computer as test ends.

If we talk of Uttar Pradesh (UP), what are the key achievements of the state in reference to transport department?

UP is the first state to have 24×7 Toll free transport helpline service. We have abolished the border check-posts and launched the online tax payment system for commercial vehicles of other states. UP is the first state to have 42 per cent of transport revenue being deposited through online mode. We have made a Central Monitoring System of all district transport offices through CCTV Cameras.

An exclusive WhatsApp group (8005441301) named ‘Road Accident Victims and Relatives’ has been created to get valuable feedbacks and suggestions from road accident victims and their relatives. Another

Another whatsapp group (9453202110) created for verification of driving license and registration for ‘insurance companies’ to help them in expeditious settelment of motor accident claims. Insurance companies officers have also. joined this group. Verification of driving licence and registration can also be made by putting a request on Whatsapp Number 8005441038.

UP Transport Department on Digital Road: K Ravinder NaikWhat steps have been taken to facilitate Vehicles’ Registration process? 

We have introduced Dealer Point Registration System that enables vehicle dealers selling new private vehicles to complete initial registration documentation and pay due taxes/fees directly into the government treasury online. Feeding vehicle, owner, and online payment of Road Tax fee-related data is done at dealer point. Only approval and issuance of Registration Certificate (RC) happen at transport office.

RCs are delivered to people through dealers. Till October 2016, a total of 2,065 dealers were enrolled and about 25 lakh vehicles were registered and 2,135 crore revenue was deposited online.

Online Booking of VIP registration number scheme was started in May 2014. No manual interface in booking of these numbers is required. Till October 2016, approximately, 68,000 numbers have been booked online. The Department is also very soon going to start the reservation of these fancy numbers through e-auction system.

How did the transport department achieve success in tax collection?

Online Vehicle Tax Payment System provides the facility for nearly 8.5 lakh commercial vehicle owners of UP to pay their vehicle taxes online.

UP is the first state which started the online tax payment system for the commercial vehicles of other states.

In which cities the Radio Taxi Scheme has been implemented?

Operation of Radio Taxis was launched in 13 major cities. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav K RAVINDER NAIK \ TRANSPORT 19 NOVEMBER 2016 / egov.eletsonline.com / egov inaugurated it in Lucknow in 2013. Presently, 551 radio taxis of nine agencies are plying in Lucknow. 10 vehicles have started plying in Varanasi, 21 in Agra, 20 in Kanpur, 10 in Allahabad and 10 in Moradabad.

A panic button installed in all radio taxis, operating under the Radio Taxi Scheme, allows women passengers to seek help in an emergency situation. It helps in tracing the location of taxi and sends it to nearest police station.

So, what is next in the offing from the UP Transport Department?

Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has implemented web-enabled ‘VAHAN 4.0’ software – a common, centralised, web-based platform for all RTOs across all states, facilitating availing many vehicle-related services online, minimizing their visits to the RTO offices, in Barabanki and Lucknow as pilot run and from December 5, 2016 it will be extended to Kanpur also. Similarly, UP has also implemented web based Saarthi 4.0 driving licence application software in Barabanki. Very soon UP will have this web- enabled Vaahan and Saarthi application system running in all RTO/ARTO offices.

E challan system’s pilot run started in Lucknow and Noida. Thereafter its implementation was extended to 24 other districts including all divisional headquarters districts.

What initiatives have been undertaken to ensure transparency in RTO/ARTO offices?

We have installed CCTV Cameras in all RTO/ ARTO offices and it is being monitored by senior officials of Headquarter. With the implementation of this, there has been heavy reduction in activities of unauthorised persons and the behaviour of staff and officials of transport offices towards general public has also improved.

How is Mobile app based e-challan system helping the transport department ?

E challan system’s pilot run started in Lucknow and Noida. Thereafter its implementation was extended to 24 other districts including all divisional headquarters districts. Now 58 enforcement officers have been provided mobile tablets for this purpose. This app provides for automatic location logging through GPS. The system will automatically calculate the challan amount based on the type of offence selected by the enforcement officer. Automatic alerts and notifications will be sent to relevant stakeholders at predefined stages of challan process.

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