Exit licence, enter smart card

Hindustan Times
     NEW DELHI, India, July 23 -- From next month, Delhiites will get smart cards for driving licences that will contain much more than just their photograph, signature and address. The smart cards will contain the proposed driver's fingerprint and a record of his or her record of traffic violations, if any. And the transport department will deliver these cards at your doorstep through courier like passports are.
     "The new smart cards will have a 4 KB chip which will contain the applicants' biometric details and driving history. The transport department will maintain a corresponding record of the persons' details and driving violations. Every time a constable stops one for a traffic offence, it will be recorded on the card. We will be able to maintain a hotlist of impounded cards," said R K Verma, Delhi transport commissioner.
     The department is also planning to send other documents like registration certificate for motor vehicle and permit for state and contract carriages through courier. "If you collect it over the counter, chances are somebody will ask you for a bribe," he said.
     Verma said issuing smart cards was the first step to evolving a system which allows interface between different agencies involved in traffic regulation like the police and transport department. "The next step will be to provide the traffic police with a mechanism to read these cards on the spot," added Verma. The Delhi Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) has been granted the contract to prepare the smart card based licensing system for a period of 10 years. At present, about 5 lakh driving licences are issued every year in Delhi.
     "Delivering licences and other documents by courier at the applicant's address will end the role of middlemen and touts. A number of people get licences and documents made by giving fake details and address proof or impersonation. That will be difficult if documents are couriered after the address proof and the identity of the applicant is verified," said Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.
     The Hindustan Times is provided through HT Syndication, New Delhi.
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