The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Vehicle licence to go hi-tech

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 18, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Vehicle licence to go hi-tech

V.S. Palaniappan

Smart card is a microchip-embedded system
It will have details of driver’s licence and vehicle permit

COIMBATORE: The State Government will go in for a microchip-embedded identification system, in the form of smart cards, which will provide data relating to driver’s licence, vehicle owner and permit.

A Government Order (No 1419), dated October 10, 2007, has been issued. The licensing authorities were hitherto issuing licences in laminated form with the assistance of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, based on the suggestion of the Committee on Automation in Transport Departments in the states, has recommended the use of the microchip-embedded identification system.

The Union Government wants the States to go in for a similar technology and data structure on the smart cards. The card will store the biometrics, photographs and signatures of licensees and permit holders. The data in the card can be updated but cannot be erased. This provided a permanent audit trail and prevents intentional tampering. The data stored in the optical strip is digitally signed to prevent unauthorised access.

The State Transport Department has suggested the Build Own Operate, or Build Own Operate Transfer, system for migrating to the smart cards that will be in force for 10 years.

It has been proposed to start a pilot project at one urban and two rural centres: the Regional Transport Office at Chennai South; Cuddalore in the Villuppuram zone; and Sivaganga in the Madurai zone. On the basis of the results, the authorities will extend the system all over State. The Government has asked the Transport Commissioner to finalise the technical specification and call for bids by following the procedures laid down by the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act of 1998.

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