Avail 30 transport services from home in Karnataka

BENGALURU: In what could spell relief for motorists in the state, the government on Monday launched contactless/faceless transport services.

The initiative includes 30 transport services, including 19 Vahan (to do with vehicle registration) and 11 Sarathi (driving licence). Transport department officials said this will reduce crowding at RTOs by around 70% and save around 70 crore papers per year.
CM Basavaraj Bommai said nearly 60 lakh people visit RTOs across the state in one year. “With this move, the number of those visiting RTOs will reduce,” he said, adding they have now given authority to dealers to register new vehicles online to reduce delay. “We will give permission to 10 dealers first. Based on the pilot, it will be extended across the state,” the CM said.
The TOI report, ‘Six months on, transport dept yet to adopt contactless services’ (September 28), had detailed the consequences of delay in implementing Aadhaar authentication-based contactless services.
Officials said the services (see box) include issuance of learner’s licence, registration of motor vehicle with fully built body, change of name in LL, transfer of ownership of motor vehicle, issuance of duplicate registration certificate and change of address in RC.
Senior IAS officer convinced CM?
In March 2021, MORTH issued a notification listing several transport-related services that can be availed via Aadhaar authentication without visiting RTOs. Sources said a section of officials in the transport department was reluctant to implement the move in Karnataka. However, sources said Rajender Kumar Kataria, principal secretary, transport department, convinced the CM. “Citizens will be able to avail these services from the comfort of their homes. This will reduce crowding at RTOs,” said Kataria.