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The Hindu : News / National : Implement smart card driving licences by December: Govt
In a bid to usher in uniformity in the road transport sector, the Centre on Thursday approved a number of schemes, including issuance of smart card based driving licence, high-security registration plates for all vehicles and a single national permit for truck operators.
The States have been asked to implement the smart card based driving licences and registration certificates by December 31 to ensure inter-operability throughout the country. They have been given the liberty of notifying the date from which they will start issuing the card.
The State governments were part of the decision-making process chaired by the Union Road Transport and Highways secretary on Thursday, which expected States to meet the target date for creation of registers of driving licences and registration certificates. The Centre has allocated Rs.148 crore for this purpose.
Stolen vehicles
As regards the implementation of the high-security registration plates with a view to prevent use of stolen vehicles in criminal activities, the Centre directed the States to implement the scheme, particularly in the light of the ruling of the Supreme Court which had set May 5, 2009 as the deadline.
Status report
The meeting directed the States to submit a status report to apprise the Supreme Court, fearing that it could take “a serious view on account of the non-implementation” of the scheme.
Rs. 15,000 composite fee
No less important, was the agreement to evolve a system for issuing a single national permit to ensure seamless movement of goods vehicle. The meeting gave its nod to the recommendation of the committee set up for the purpose, according to which, a composite fee of Rs.15,000 per annum per truck would be charged. The States are required to shift to an e-payment system of collection of the composite fee. A formula would be worked out for the distribution of the revenue collected to ensure that States do not lose revenue with the implementation of the new system.
Seeking to address the concern raised by the President in her address to the joint session of Parliament about the inadequate representation of women in government jobs, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry attributed the problem to the lack of proper transport facility.
Consequently, the Ministry issued a directive to all State governments to make adequate arrangement of special buses for women, introduce special peak hour service, and re-design routes keeping safety aspect in mind. The States are also required to involve employers to provide pick-up and drop facility for women
In a bid to usher in uniformity in the road transport sector, the Centre on Thursday approved a number of schemes, including issuance of smart card based driving licence, high-security registration plates for all vehicles and a single national permit for truck operators.
The States have been asked to implement the smart card based driving licences and registration certificates by December 31 to ensure inter-operability throughout the country. They have been given the liberty of notifying the date from which they will start issuing the card.
The State governments were part of the decision-making process chaired by the Union Road Transport and Highways secretary on Thursday, which expected States to meet the target date for creation of registers of driving licences and registration certificates. The Centre has allocated Rs.148 crore for this purpose.
Stolen vehicles
As regards the implementation of the high-security registration plates with a view to prevent use of stolen vehicles in criminal activities, the Centre directed the States to implement the scheme, particularly in the light of the ruling of the Supreme Court which had set May 5, 2009 as the deadline.
Status report
The meeting directed the States to submit a status report to apprise the Supreme Court, fearing that it could take “a serious view on account of the non-implementation” of the scheme.
Rs. 15,000 composite fee
No less important, was the agreement to evolve a system for issuing a single national permit to ensure seamless movement of goods vehicle. The meeting gave its nod to the recommendation of the committee set up for the purpose, according to which, a composite fee of Rs.15,000 per annum per truck would be charged. The States are required to shift to an e-payment system of collection of the composite fee. A formula would be worked out for the distribution of the revenue collected to ensure that States do not lose revenue with the implementation of the new system.
Seeking to address the concern raised by the President in her address to the joint session of Parliament about the inadequate representation of women in government jobs, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry attributed the problem to the lack of proper transport facility.
Consequently, the Ministry issued a directive to all State governments to make adequate arrangement of special buses for women, introduce special peak hour service, and re-design routes keeping safety aspect in mind. The States are also required to involve employers to provide pick-up and drop facility for women
