HYDERABAD: The Transport Department has decided to have a web-based architecture to have real time networking of its offices all over the State, including twin cities, which would help record traffic violations and the much talked about penalty points on errant vehicle drivers.

With much hue and cry being raised over lack of a stringent mechanism to check traffic violations, the department is also mulling to make procedure for suspension or cancellation of driving licences more effective.

Also, in order to keep track of change of address or ownership of the vehicle, the department might make dispatch of licences and registration certificates of personal vehicles through courier compulsory for proper maintenance of database.

Crying hoarse

These steps should please the city traffic police who have been crying hoarse for strengthening regulatory mechanism of the transport department, one of which was to keep an up to date data of driving licences and ownership of vehicles.

The Transport Department plans to start a publicity campaign seeking information whenever a vehicle's ownership changed hands. The department initiatives were listed out in the `Action Plan for Traffic & Transportation Management in Hyderabad Metropolitan Area' submitted by a high-powered committee to the High Court last month.

If the department is hamstrung in being unable to keep itself abreast of changes in vehicles ownership, it is because, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, address intimation is compulsory only when driving licences are issued.

Issue of licence

For light motor vehicles and two-wheelers, licences are issued for 20 years or up to 50 years of age of the license holder (whichever is earlier) and five years for every subsequent renewal. However, it has to be done once every three years for heavy transport vehicles.

The Regional Transport Authority, Hyderabad, with the initiative of Centre for Good Governance, has started dispatch of licences and registration certificates through courier to citizens at a cost of Rs. 10.

For effective measures to check traffic congestion, the transport department has suggested five-day week, staggered timings for educational institutions and commercial establishments, clearing sidewalks of encroachments, specified parking areas, licensing automobile workshops and stepping up enforcement to book more cases on polluting vehicles and unlicensed drivers.

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