Navhind Times
Panaji, May 12: Goa this week became the first state in the country to allow online registration of non-transport vehicles at dealer level, with more innovative introductions in transport sector like Smart Card and high security number plate on the anvil.
Transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar, who presented R C book to a buyer of a vehicle at the city Chowgule showroom, thus marking the launch of the programme, told the pressmen that the transport department has amended Rule 42 of the Goa Motor Vehicles Rules, 1991, so as to make provision for registration of non-transport vehicles on the first sale and conferring powers on the transport director to empower a dealer to register a vehicle, subject to terms and conditions.
Following the amendment, Madkaikar said the transport department entrusted the work of preparation of a software for the eMVR — electronic motor vehicle registration — which is an extension e-RTA portal to Goa Electronics Ltd, in association with Maruti-IT.com ltd, Bangalore, for a cost of Rs 8.5 lakh.
“Upon successful completion of the trials of this software, it was decided to implement dealer-level registration in a phased manner,” he said, adding that in the first phase the dealer will be given a limited power of completing all registration formalities online including the collection of road tax, registration fees, etc as well as allotting the vehicle number — ordinary or of choice — instantly to the customer.
Further, the customer will be able to collect the R C book from the dealer, the next day, after verification of documents and signature by the registering authority of RTO, the Transport Minister informed.
“After reviewing the progress of eMVR in phase I, the government may consider conferring the powers of signing the R C book to an authorised representative of the dealer, in the second phase, that is if the first phase runs smoothly,” he said.
“This means that the dealer will be given the power to act as a registering authority with limited powers of registration only,” Madkaikar said, pointing out that government may also consider inclusion of transport vehicles in this programme.
The programme will be subsequently extended to Margao, followed by towns like Mapusa, Vasco and Ponda, he informed.
The Transport Minister also requested the dealers of vehicles to upgrade the infrastructure at their showrooms/outlets so as to gear up for the online registration of vehicles.
Mr Madkaikar also said that the transport department would introduce Smart Cards for fresh applicants from next week, which will have an in-built 4KB chip containing information such as personal details and traffic violations, if any, by the card holder.
He further informed that the high security number plates would be supplied to vehicle owners. “The transport department has completed tendering process for the same and will now sign an agreement with the contractor,” Madkaikar said, adding “The plates would be introduced either in June or July, later this year.”
Stating that there are altogether 5.2 lakh vehicles registered in Goa, with 30,000 to 35,000 vehicles of all kind being added every year, the transport director, Mr Mihir Vardhan, who was also present on the occasion, said that the issuing of driving licences and registration of vehicles are carried out through computerisation, while functional computerisation for activities like collection of taxes, MIS reports, etc needs to be achieved.
He assured that the remaining 50 per cent computerisation in the department would be achieved within next three to four months.
Transport secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshi said that the main aim behind the online vehicle registration programme is to reduce direct interface between the department and the public.
It was also informed that the office of the transport department in Margao would soon be shifted to a new premises.
Goa Automobile Dealers Association president Manoj Caculo proposed the vote of thanks.