Tech Cap on Graft in UP Transport Dept: K Ravindra Naik

K Ravindra Naik
K Ravindra Naik Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government
K Ravindra Naik
Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government

ICT-enabled services by the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department have drastically reduced human interface in the RTO offices. Today, 42 per cent of the department’s revenue is generated online, says K Ravindra Naik, Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of 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 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). Other tech-driven services of the Department include:

Other tech-driven services of the Department include:

Initiatives in Driving Licences

Smart Card Driving Licence (SCDL) Project was started in January 2013 and in six months it was implemented in all RTO/ARTO offices. For Smart Cards, biometrics capturing has been made mandatory, requiring physical presence of applicants at the RTO/ARTO offices. We have issued a total 75 lakhs (approx) Smart Card Driving Licences till June 2016.

It leaves zero possibility of duplication or fake issuance of driving licences (DL) and helps create computerised database of DL  holders which can easily retrieve DL details of any DL holders.

Online submission of DL / LL Application

We started online submission of DL / LL application in 18 Divisional HQs’ districts till March 2015. Applicants can submit new LL or new DL application and pay fees online. A particular time-slot of choice can be booked for biometrics and LL/DL test, conducted in the concerned RTO/ARTO offices.

Computerised Learner License Test has been started in RTO Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi and Bareilly. It will soon begin in Meerut and Kanpur. Since June 1, 2015 applications for Learning License (LL) and payment of fees in Lucknow RTO and Mahanagar ARTO offices are being accepted as online submission only.

Applicants take LL test on computer. There are 15 random questions from software. Candidate has to correct nine questions at the minimum. Questions include topics including traffic signs, signals, rules of road regulations, precautions needed while driving, driver’s duties during road accidents and documents need while driving. Result is declared on computer as test ends.

What 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 RC happen at transport office.

RCs are delivered to people through dealers. Till June 2016, a total of 1,889 dealers were enrolled and about 19.5 lakh vehicles were registered and Rs 1,630 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 June 2016, approx. 58,540 numbers have been booked online.

How did the Transport Department achieve success in tax collection?

Online Multi-option Vehicle Tax Payment System provides commercial vehicle owners, registered in UP, to pay taxes online. The payment modes include SBI internet banking, and ATM cum Debit / Credit cards of all leading banks. Tax / penalty calculation is done by software, without human intervention, immediately generating receipt.

Commercial vehicles of other states entering UP for a limited time period are paying their taxes online. Tax collected from commercial vehicles coming in the vicinity of Uttar Pradesh from other states is Rs. 4,96,13,306.

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 trace location of taxi and the driver and sends it to nearest police station

UP is the first state, offering 24×7 Transport Helpline. What is the rate of complaint disposal?

Our Transport Helpline has two components, (1) Toll-free Number 1800-1800-151 functions 24×7 to answer citizens’ queries and register complaints. The www.uptransporthelpline.org is for citizens to know complaint’s status, and for department officers to enter their redressal reports and monitor efficient complaint disposal.

Till June 2016, 98 percent of the 16,018 complaints registered were resolved.

In which cities the Radio Taxi Scheme has been implemented?

Operation of Radio Taxis was launched in 13 major cities. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav 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 allows women passengers to seek help in emergency. It helps trace location of taxi and the driver and sends to nearest police station. Steps are on to provide the facility also in other target cities.

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

Uttar Pradesh Transport Department will fully adopt 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 Uttar Pradesh, pilot runs started in Barabanki in

In Uttar Pradesh, pilot runs started in Barabanki in Januray 2016 and from July this system was made functional in RTO Lucknow. NIC Hyderabad is working on it.

We will also launch Mobile App based e-challan system, developed by NIC, Delhi, to provide automatic location logging through GPS. Mobile App will fetch vehicle/driver details from Vahan-Sarathi database by entering DL and RC. Pilot run have started in Lucknow and Noida.

We are also planning to install CCTV Cameras in RTO/ARTO offices. Installation of CCTV cameras / emergency button / GPRS in all public service vehicles will be done. Installation of speed governors in all commercial vehicles registered in UP and implementation of High Security Registration Plates scheme and Smart Card Registration Certificates will be done. We will install fare meters in all Auto and Taxis. Modernisation of transport offices is to be done in phases.

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