Question : MEASURES TO CHECK TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

(a) whether the Union Government has taken measures to sensitise the State Governments to introduce/install state-of the-art gadgets/equipment in order to check traffic violations;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the State Governments thereto;

(c) whether the Government has also taken steps to computerise and integrate the driving license issuing authorities of all States and UTs;

(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and

(e) the further steps being contemplated for application of new technology to check traffic violations?

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRNASPORT AND HIGHWAYS (DR. C. P. JOSHI)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.288 REGARDING MEASURES TO CHECK TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2013, ASKED BY SHRI PARTAP SINGH BAJWA

(a)&(b) Several software solutions have been developed with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the enforcement related activities which can be used by the state governments for checking traffic violations. Authorities of the States/UTs have been sensitised about the solutions through several national level workshops and interactions during meetings organised by the Ministry. However, the progress of adoption of the systems by the various states, depends on their status of preparedness vis-à-vis the systems. Some of the States/Union Territories like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have started adopting the mobile based enforcement system. Other States like Odisha and Mizoram have shown their interest and started the process of evaluation and testing/training.

(c)&(d) Ministry of Road transport and Highways is implementing the National Transport Project at all the Regional Transport Offices(RTOs)/District Transport Offices(DTOs) across the country as a Mission Mode Project under National e-Governance Plan. Under this project, the Ministry has sponsored a project to customize and deploy the software VAHAN for Vehicle Registration and SARATHI for Driving Licence and compilation of data with respect to Vehicle Registration and Driving License of all the states at State Register and National Register. SARATHI has been designed to automate the activities related to issuance of Learner’s Licence, Driving Licence and Conductor Licence and the Licence for the Driving School Establishment. Rollout of the project in all the RTOs is completed in 32 states. 987 out of 993 RTOs (99%) have been computerized across the country. Establishment of connectivity between RTOs and State Transport Authorities (STAs) have been completed in 32 states. 966 out of 993 RTOs (97%) have been connected to the State and National Registers. The Vehicle Registration and Driving License data has been consolidated in the State Registers (SR) and National Register (NR). State Registers of all the 35 States/UTs have been established at respective NIC Data Centres. National Register (NR) has been established at NIC Data Center, Hyderabad.

(e) Ministry has introduced Smart Card based licenses. The chip on this Smart Card has provision for writing challans and traffic violations. In addition, SMS based access to database is available to field staff for enforcement purpose. The State/UT agencies have been requested to use these facilities. The state governments are provided requisite support for application of new technology to check traffic violations.