The state government on Tuesday introduced digital platform-based delivery for 18 types of services, including issuing of duplicate driving licence, change of address of the driving licence and granting NOC for registration certificate by using Aadhaar authentication.
An order issued by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the transport secretary, said the use of digital platforms would “ensure transparency and good governance” and “help provide convenient and hassle-free services to the citizens”.
Almost all these services required applicants queuing up and visiting from one desk to another to get the work done in the transport department till now.
Senior officers of the department said the authentication process would comprise two steps — first signing by the applicant through the Aadhaar-linked mobile number and second, biometric verification of the applicant.
“While applying for a duplicate driving licence, for instance, the applicant had to physically turn up before a Motor Vehicles inspector with all documents in original as a part of verification process,” said a senior officer of the transport department. “After verification is done, the documents are sent for approval before the duplicate is finally released. With this new system, one needn’t turn up physically for any verification. Everything can be completed online.”
Officers said an applicant seeking any of the listed services had to visit the website of the ministry of road transport and highways under parivahan.gov.in and then follow the flow chart for Aadhaar authentication.
“This will ensure contactless delivery without having to pay any additional amount to any outsider,” the officer said.
Regulars to motor vehicles offices across the city have often complained about touts fleecing them for offering basic services. Those who do not want to take this route have said they have had to go in rounds from one desk to another before a service has been delivered.
A section of senior officers said the ministry of road transport and highways had issued a similar directive in March 2021 enabling citizens to avail benefits of contactless services.
Several states had struggled to put in place the online mechanism immediately. The Bengal government worked with several agencies in the IT sector over the last few months to ensure that 18 different services under the transport department's purview were made available through the Aadhaar authentication process online.
Tuesday's notice said the order comes into immediate effect and will cover various services, including issuing of international driving permit, temporary registration of vehicle, duplicate certificate of registration and for termination of hire-purchase agreement.