TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Strengthening of Punitive System under Motor Vehicles Act 1988
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is the main instrument through which road transport is regulated in the country. Existing penalties prescribed in the Act for various traffic offences have not been revised since 1988. In many cases, they are as low as र100/- and have ceased to be a deterrent. Keeping this in view, the Ministry has proposed to enhance the penalties for various traffic offences in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2007 which was also examined by Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Ministry had also set up an Expert Committee to review the Act and the Committee too has recommended the enhancement of penalties for traffic offences. In the light of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and the Expert Committee, we have endeavoured to incorporate the best possible formulation with regard to penal provisions and have drafted a proposal for approval of the Cabinet. At present, the Cabinet note has been circulated to all the concerned Ministries/Departments for their comments. On obtaining the approval of the cabinet, the Ministry will approach the Parliament for consideration of the esteemed Members.
Implementation of IT projects in the State Transport Departments – VAHAN and SARATHI and creation of State Registers and National Register of Driving Licences and Registration Certificates
Vahan & Sarathi : In order to introduce Information Technology in the Road Transport Sector and to ensure uniformity and inter-operability throughout the country, the Ministry had made provisions in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 for issuance of Smart Card based Driving Licence and Registration Certificates. The Ministry developed standardised software (VAHAN for Registration Certificates and SARATHI for Driving Licences) in consultation with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and made it available to all the states free of cost. The software covers both back-end automation of R.T.Os and front-end computerisation to enable issuance of documents, such as Driving Licence and Registration Certificates in a Smart Card mode. 100% computerisation has been achieved in 31 States/UTs (The states left are Punjab, Haryana, J&K and West Bengal where implementation is at an advanced stage).
Creation of National and State Registers of Driving Licences and Registration Certificates:
Another IT project taken up by the Ministry through The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is creation of State and National Register of Driving Licence and Registration Certificates as one of the Mission Mode Projects under the National e-Governance Programme. At a total cost of र148 crore, the project aims at computerisation of RTOs/STAs and subsequently linking them to the National/State Register(s) of Driving Licences and Registration Certificates. The State Register has been established in all the states. The project is at an advanced stage of execution – 100% connectivity has been achieved in 31 States/UTs and 940 (96%) out of 975 RTOs have been connected. We are pursuing with the States (Punjab, Haryana, J&K and West Bengal) where the progress is not up to the mark. We hope that the project would be completed soon and the National and State Registers with complete data would be functional soon.
Once the National and State Registers are in place, data would be available on the portal with secured access. This would enable the authorities to provide a number of online services to the public as well as to verify the genuineness of driving licences, payment of taxes, etc. Other stakeholders such as security agencies and insurance companies will also benefit from such electronic database.
Strengthening public transport system in the country
Despite the rising demand of public transport in the rural/mofussil areas, there is hardly any established public transport system to provide them connectivity with nearest towns/cities. There is an urgent need to improve the quality of public transport in these areas. The Ministry has introduced a scheme w.e.f. March 15, 2010 to provide financial assistance to States/UTs for strengthening the public transport system through the introduction of Information Technology such as GPS/GSM based vehicle tracking system, electronic ticket vending machines, computerised reservation system, passenger information system, etc. Projects of eight states namely Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and Kerala have already been considered for providing central assistance by the Ministry. A budget provision of र40 crore has been set aside for implementing the scheme in 2011-12.
I was asked by the concessionaires why should the post be restricted only to bureaucrats? If we have eligible private professionals, why can’t they be taken on this position? And I agree with them. Why deprive NHAI of an expert if it is possible to appoint one?
Setting up Model Inspection and Certification Centres for Vehicles
‘In use’ vehicles require focused attention in the wake of the worsening road accident scenario and environmental pollution. We are in the process of putting in place a suitably designed Inspection and Certification system throughout the country for rigorous inspection of motor vehicles and for removing the defects before they are allowed to ply on roads. We have designed a model of automated Inspection & Certification centre and approved a scheme for setting up of 10 such centres in 10 States (Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, National Capital Region, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh) on a pilot basis. These centres will serve as technical centres for testing the roadworthiness of transport vehicles after evaluation of various identified parameters in a scientific manner. Proposals from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already been approved. Other states (UP and Delhi) have been reminded for sending their proposals.
In the 12th Plan, the Ministry intends to set up one such automated centre in all the States/UTs which could replicate the model centres in other parts of the States/UTs. After having a firsthand experience of running these centres for one or two years, we intend to upscale the scheme on PPP basis to set up more such centres in the entire country.
Setting up Model Driving Training Schools
A large number of road accidents, including fatal ones, take place in India every year. The causative analysis of various road accidents carried out in the past infers that majority of road accidents occur due to drivers’ fault. There is an urgent need to impart good driving skills, both through theory as well as practical training sessions. The Ministry has, through the Planning Commission, revived the scheme for setting up Model Drivers Training Institutes (DTIs) in States/UTs in the 11th Five-year Plan. Ten model driving training institutes with central funding are being set up in ten States (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Sikkim, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tripura, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh). During 2011-12, a budget provision of र120 crore has been kept for the scheme ‘Human Resource Development including drivers training’. We intend to set up more model driving institutes on PPP basis in the 12th Plan to cover the entire country.
Recently you had called a meeting of concessionaires. It was a first of its kind meeting to discuss, among other issues, the issue of National Highway Authority of India. What was the outcome?
We have five-six members dedicated to the issue. I was keen to listen to the opinion of the concessionaires. They have raised certain issues which I will take back to my officials and discuss and take the best decision. They were happy that for the first time such a meeting was called to hear their views. And I was happy to understand what they wanted.
The issue of the appointment of NHAI Chairman too was discussed at this meeting we learnt.
Yes, it was. At present, the only provision is to appoint a secretary level officer on the post. I was asked by the concessionaires why should the post be restricted only to bureaucrats? If we have eligible private professionals, why can’t they be taken on this position? And I agree with them. Why deprive NHAI of an expert if it is possible to appoint one? Take the example of the Metro. Sree (E Sreedharan, Chairman, Delhi Metro) was with the Railways. Look at what a brilliant job he has done at the Metro. If we can identify someone like him, it will be good. By this current practice of restrictive appointment, we are curtailing the proper working of the national body.
Another issue was that over र10,000 crore is being spent on arbitration for NHAI cases, so why not designate a member from NHAI itself to look into these matters? This is a valid point and I will discuss this too with my officials.
You have been keen to bring a method in the Electronic Toll Collection system too.
Yes, Nandan Nilekani has facilitated that. I took the decision to have a Task Force. We have come out with a standard format for it. We will put it on the website, interact with people, seek their opinion and then frame the rules. I am of the opinion that we have to address the IT needs properly. When we are going in for PPP mode which will lead to major development, we have to first set our house in order.
I am of the view that there should be some mechanism to make information regarding availability of ambulances on particular NHs/stretches available to the users. For this purpose, the Ministry is planning to launch a vibrant campaign through electronic media like Doordarshan highlighting the availability of cranes/ ambulances on National Highways for dealing with accidents.
Media has never been utilised by the Transport ministry properly. It can be a very strong tool for the success of various national and international campaigns instead of being a platform to just report news. Do you plan to use media in your campaigns?
Awareness is generated through various Road Safety Campaigns utilising audio-visual and other print media. With a view to raise road safety awareness among the general public, the Ministry has been undertaking various publicity measures through DAVP, Doordarshan, All India Radio and professional agencies in the form of telecast/broadcast of TV spots/Radio spots, distribution of posters, printing of books on road safety signage & signs, calendars depicting road safety messages, organising Road Safety Week Seminars, Exhibitions, All India Essay Competition on Road Safety, etc. The Ministry has also brought out advertisements in the newspapers from time to time showing different road safety messages on all India basis at regular intervals so that mass awareness is generated.
You are known for being digital-savvy. So, what is in store in this area vis-à-vis roads, highways and public benefits?
One step, as we discussed earlier, is the VAHAN-SARATHI programme. And as we discussed earlier, as a part of national e-governance programme, a mission mode project has been taken up which aims at computerisation of all the RTOs/DTOs across the country, their inter-connectivity and establishing State and National Register for motor vehicles. With the completion of this project, various services relating to licensing, registration and permit could be offered online.
The idea of providing ambulances at every 50km on the highways hasn’t fructified. What are the obstacles and how will you make it a reality?
I am of the view that there should be some mechanism to make information regarding availability of ambulances on particular NHs/stretches available to the users. For this purpose, the Ministry is planning to launch a vibrant campaign through electronic media like Doordarshan highlighting the availability of cranes/ambulances on National Highways for dealing with accidents. The cell phone number of ambulances can also be linked with toll plaza to make the location of each ambulance known to the people. NHAI has already been directed to provide information regarding location of cranes and ambulances on toll booths.
What are your first three immediate priorities?
Amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act: As we have discussed earlier, the Ministry is in the process of amending the Motor Vehicles Act which contains a number of important provisions to address the issues relating to enhancement of penalties for various traffic offences and compensation for road accident victims.
Road Safety: Road safety is a socio-technical problem having enormous social implications. The road safety problem in India has grown in the last one decade itself at an annual rate of 5-6%. Over 1.25 lakh people were killed in around 4.8 lakh road accidents reported in the year 2009. These numbers translate into roughly one road accident per minute and one road accident death every four and a half minutes for India. Keeping in view the social cost involved and the trauma associated with road accidents, road safety has been on the priority of the Government for quite some time.
Making a difference: The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways being the nodal Ministry for Road Safety, is aware of all related problems and is working very closely with all other stakeholders towards making a difference in the near future. The Government will take all possible steps expeditiously to improve road safety scenario in the country.