In a big leap, the Transport Department on Friday launched smart cards replacing the existing conventional driving licence and RC books for new vehicles.
Transport Department has launched the smart card facility with added security features in 120 out of the 145 Regional Transport Offices and it plans to cover the remaining 25 offices before March-end. On Friday, the facility was launched in 37 offices across 10 districts. It was launched in 16 offices in the Coimbatore Zone, which comprises Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris.
From Friday, the driving licence and RC books will be in smart cards in the following offices, Udhagamandalam, Gudalur, Mettuppalayam, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore Central, Coimbatore South, Coimbatore West, Sulur, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Dharapuram, Tirupur South and Tirupur North. The smart cards were launched by Deputy Transport Commissioner - Headquarters and Nodal officer for E Government initiative P. Suresh, and Joint Transport Commissioner K.R. Krishnamoorthy in the presence of Regional Transport Officers Regional Transport Officers M. Raju (West), T. Balraj (South), K. Kumaravelu (North) and J.K. Baskaran (Central).
The smart card has micro text images and a chip is embedded in a pyramid shape with the the words Indian Union Driving Licence and the face of the card has a Gulliche Pattern designing and Government Emblem i.e., the Srivilliputhur Rajagopuram will glow if the UV rays are emitted on it. Besides there is a QR code as well as to scan the details at a lightning speed during vehicle checks by enforcement officers. All these are added security features.
Very shortly, when the Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Traffic police are equipped with card readers, the details of earlier offences could be detected easily.
The government has given time for the existing licence and RC book holders to go in for conversion to smart chip embedded cards within the next five years by remitting a fee of ₹200 for the card and ₹30 as service fee. New licences and RC books from now on will be issued in the smart card mode, the officials said.
