Smart card-based driving licenses to be issued in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the issuance of smart card based driving licences in the national capital with an aim to ensure quick and transparent services as per directions from the Union Transport ministry.

"A number of other states have already implemented the smart card based license issue system. In Delhi on an average approximately five lakh licenses are being issued every year. It is therefore imperative to have a robust, efficient and reliable system," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters after the meeting.

It has been decided to enter into a contract with Delhi Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) for smart card based driving license issue system for a period of 10 years wherein data of the vehicle owner is stored in a chip.

"It would be impossible to issue driving license to a person without actually being present in the zonal office.

"The system will be designed in such a manner that fingerprint for one-to-one matching and other details of the license holder will be used as key fields for verifying the particulars of the license holder," Dikshit added.

This will prevent issue of duplicate and fraudulent licenses. The system will have a graphic user interface and will ensure data integrity, shared access and security, reliability/retrieval of stored data and data consistency.

Further a hot list will be prepared for impounded driving licenses. This information shall be available online to all the Zonal Offices, Dikshit added.

She further stated that to ensure transparency and eliminate malpractices and middlemen, touts, agents, brokers, it has been decided to deliver licenses and other documents by courier at respective address of the applicant.