Chhattisgarh’s transport department is using ICT for issuing driving licences, learning licences, registration of vehicles, payment of taxes and ownership transfer permits etc, says Om Prakash Pal, Additional Transport Commissioner, Department of Transport, Government of Chhattisgarh, in conversation with Susmriti Sahu of Elets News Network (ENN).
“For the last five years, we are issuing smart card based driving licences and registration certificates with a chip which has all the details of the vehicle and holder of driving licence.”
How are ICT initiatives changing the day-to-day operations of various Government departments?
There are multiple advantages of having ICT operations in Government departments as malpractices come down and bring a lot of transparency to the whole system. Through digital initiatives, it becomes easy to keep track of things. It helps in making the whole system more efficient and makes the process convenient for the public.
How have you integrated ICT in Chhattisgarh’s transport department?
All the transport offices and processes in the State have been fully computerised. We are using ICT for issuing driving and learning licences, registration of vehicles, payment of taxes, photo based fitness, permits etc. We have also signed an MoU with a private company for providing IT related services.
What are some of the IT initiatives you have undertaken in the transport department?
All the 25 district transport offices of Chhattisgarh have been digitised. We have dealer point registration wherein the dealer does the entire registration process. We are one of the first states in the country to have started 100 per cent payment of taxes and fees through online mode of payment.
For the last five years, we are issuing smart card based driving licences and registration certificates with a chip which has all the details of the vehicle and holder of the driving licence. We have digitised the entire procedure of issuing driving license including the payment of fee online.
We are one of the first State in the country to have started the online mode of payment.
“We are fast moving into an era of multi-modal transport system. Those days are not far behind when a single card will be used for multiple transport facilities.”
We are soon going to set up a computerised fitness testing centre for vehicles. We are also in the process of setting up automated driving test track for the applicants of driving licences. A control room will also be established in Raipur which will monitor the operation and movement of all the buses in the State. All the buses, including the private ones will be fitted with GPS so that their movement can be tracked. Through GPS, we can easily monitor 
whether these buses are following the traffic rules or not. In case of some mishappening, the GPS will help us in providing help at the earliest.
What are the major challenges in front of you?
In Chhattisgarh, we have shortage of staff which hampers the operations. Connectivity is sometimes a problem for far off areas. I am hopeful that all these issues will be solved soon.
How is ICT going to change the future of public transport in Chhattisgarh?
In Chhattisgarh, we don’t have any State Transport Undertaking. There are only few city buses which are operating under Urban Development department. We are fast moving into an era of multi-modal transport system. Those days are not far behind when a single card will be used for multiple transport facilities. This will increase the efficiency of public transport operation.