New software to curb corrupt practices and to check the status of a registered vehicle is being introduced by the State Transport Department. It will be used in all the Regional Transport Offices across the State.
Giving details about the new software, M. Rajaram, Transport Commissioner told The Hindu that the software would help in getting all the details about a registered vehicle. Apart from whether a particular vehicle was involved in any accident, details such as tax evasion by the vehicle owner and any criminal action pending against the vehicle could be retrieved using the software, he said.
The software has already been introduced in Chennai and Madurai. In the next phase, it would be introduced in Coimbatore and Erode region, for which a training programme for RTO officials was held in Coimbatore on Tuesday. In the final phase the new system would be introduced in Villupuram and Salem regions, he said.
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A recent scam in the collection of taxes and issuance of permits to vehicles detected in the Meenambakkam RTO office in Chennai necessitated the introduction of the new software.
A team of officials led by P. Dharini, Regional Transport Officer, Vellore, created the software, which is being given to the RTOs in the State.
Transport Department sources said as a clerk in the Meenambakkam RTO office was the brain behind it. He collected road tax from vehicle owners and issued false receipts with fake seals.
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Besides, the clerk had also taken bribes for collecting lesser amount of tax from vehicle owners.
Special team
The clerk had come to Chennai in 2008 and since then he was allegedly indulging in the corrupt practice, the sources said. The Department had formed a special team to probe the allegations.
So far, the authorities have identified swindling to the tune of Rs.17 lakh.
The actual amount and the exact number of vehicles involved in the scam could be known only after May 16, which is the last day for paying the first quarter of the road tax, the sources added.