The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Smart-card based licence, vehicle registration certificate soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Smart-card based licence, vehicle registration certificate soon

K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI: The Transport Department has invited tenders for issuing smart-card based driving licences, and registration certificates for vehicles. In the first phase, it will be introduced in three Regional Transport Offices.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification five years ago that all States should introduce such licences and certificates.

The cards, with an embedded microchip, will have a visual part and a ‘machine readable zone.’ It will have the licence holder’s photograph, signature and biometrics in electronic form. The system will conform to national security requirements. Again, from a security angle, a major advantage is that the data can be updated, but not erased.

The data stored on the optical strip is digitally signed, making unauthorised access impossible, according to C.P. Singh, Transport Commissioner. The system will be introduced on an experimental basis in Chennai (South), Cuddalore and Sivaganga RTOs and extended to other RTOs.

The cost of the cards will have to be borne by licence holders, Mr. Singh told The Hindu.

Instructions have been given to officials to suspend the licence for six months in case of fatal accidents and drunken driving in the first instance. Licence would be cancelled for repeat offence, Mr. Singh said.

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