Home Dept: consider ‘microdot’ technology

To curb vehicle thefts in the Capital

The Delhi government’s Home Department has asked the Delhi Police and the Transport Department to look into the possibility of using microdot technology in order to curb vehicle thefts. The technology involves spraying of thousands of nano dots carrying registration information on vehicles.

August 28 letter

In a letter on August 28, the Home Department told the police and the Transport Department that a company had got in touch with it after seeing a news report on Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal’s recent directions to work on technical solutions to the issue of vehicle theft in Delhi.

The Home Department submitted the details to the police and Transport Department for “scrutiny” for further action.

Sources in the government stated that there has not been any decision yet, but the Centre is also working on a policy regarding microdot technology.

Nano dots

Sources said about 10,000 nano dots are sprayed on four-wheelers, 3,000 on two-wheelers and and 5,000 on commercial vehicles.

These nano-size metal particles carry information like the registration number and chassis number of the vehicle. The dots are sprayed at many different spots on the vehicle, so that even if the vehicle is stolen and sold for parts, it can be traced.

Thousands of vehicle thefts, which are reported in the Capital each year, have led authorities to consider measures to curb those.

A Delhi Police report has stated that in 2017, 39,080 vehicles were stolen till December 15.