Applicants running from pillar to post to get a list of documents required for any transactions will soon be a thing of the past as the Transport Department is gearing up to adopt chatbot.
A chatbot is a computer program that can hold conversations via text or audio. The applicant can log in to the Transport Department portal — transport dot telangana dot gov dot in — and start shooting their queries to get instant replies.
A top official of the department told The Hindu that Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy suggested that the IT wing of the Department introduce the chatbot system on their website for the convenience of applicants.
Automated interface
Responding to Minister’s instructions, the IT wing is working overtime to develop the online computer interactive module, the official said.
“In the next few months, we will come-up with web-based chatbot system to improve and speed up service for applicants,” Joint Transport Commissioner C. Ramesh said. Once operational, the system will replace the helpdesk-applicant interface, which is time taking and applicants need not visit the nearest Road Transport Office (RTO) to get their doubts clarified, he said.
The system can relay the information quickly for any questions ranging from simple to complex and applicants need not have to visit the transport offices. For instance, if a person is wanting to apply for learner’s license and is not aware of the process and documents required.
“The applicant need only visit our website and get doubts about the process and documentation, among others clarified through the soon to be launched chatbot messenger,” Mr. Ramesh said.
He hoped that chatbot interface will help curb corruption and totally eliminate the role of middlemen in the Department.
“At the next stage we shall integrate the chatbot with our RTA m-Wallet mobile application, which has nearly two million users across the State,” he said.
