Driving licences, RCs to get smart makeover

 Beginning June 25, the State Government will start issuing driving licences and registration certificates (RCs) in the form of smart cards.

These cards, which are equivalent to credit cards in size, will replace computer-image cards earlier issued in Bangalore and those in booklet form in the rest of the State.
Transport minister R Ashok said on Wednesday that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will formally launch the introduction of smart cards in Bangalore on June 25.

The memory chip in the smart cards of driving licences carry personal details of the holder, while in case of cards of RC book contain the vehicle’s history. Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials anywhere in the State can verify the data by swiping the cards.
Ashok said the measure would come into force as part of the Centre’s directive to introduce smart cards.

Once the system was implemented across the country, the cards could be used to obtain details of a vehicle or a driving licence holder. The State transport department is equipped to issue smart cards. The process has been computerised, the minister said.

First in Bangalore

To begin with, the department will start issuing cards in Bangalore. Deputy Commissioner of Transport Hemanth Kumar said that by September the entire state would be covered. “Each RTO office will be equipped with servers and provided with server rooms. In the next three months, all offices across the State would be empowered to issue the smart cards”, Hemanth Kumar said.

Two-year’s time

For those who have already obtained driving licences and RC books, the department has set a deadline of two years to procure smart cards.

They can obtain smart cards by paying a fee of Rs 200 each for driving licences and registration certificates.

Hemanth Kumar said that smart cards could be issued within two days once applications are submitted in RTO offices.