Chennai may soon get its first high-tech sensor-based track for conducting driving licence tests. The facility is expected to come on the proposed RTO premises in Sholinganallur in the coming months.
Besides, the issuing of driving licence and Registration Certificate (RC) in the smart card format is expected to commence within a few weeks.
An RTO is being constructed on around seven acres of land the Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Road connecting the Old Mahabalipuram Road and the East Coast Road. The compound wall of the construction site has been completed and since it is a low lying area, the land has to be filled.
“Apart from the RTO office, there will be an automatic vehicle testing track. This will reduce the time taken for the test and also human intervention,” said a senior official from the transport department. With the help of sensors and cameras, the test for providing four-wheeler licences will be monitored from a control room. “During the test, the applicant will have to drive through the track and if a mistake is made it will be automatically recorded in the computer with the help of sensors and cameras. At the end of the test, a report will be provided to the applicant,” the official said.
This will ensure that only qualified candidates get the licence as test accuracy will improve and intervention of agents wont be there. “In case the candidates have doubts regarding the test result, they can always demand proof which will be given in the form of videos. An analysis report will also be provided,” the official explained.
However the 8-shaped track for conducting driving-licence tests for two-wheelers, will not have sensors. “This can be monitored manually,” he said.
“The smart cards will be issued through all the RTOs in the State in the coming weeks. The price of the smart card is expected to be nominal. With this, enforcement will be easy and so will the name transfer,” said an official. The smart cards, with a chip, will also have the picture of the applicant. “It will have security features to avoid tampering,” the official added.