VAHAN portal transition triggers vehicle registration delays in state

Hyderabad: The rollout of the VAHAN portal in Telangana has triggered complaints over delays in permanent vehicle registrations, with dealers and applicants reporting that new registration numbers have not been generated in some cases for nearly 20 days. The issue has led to confusion at showrooms, where customers were earlier informed that registrations would be completed directly at the point of sale.‘Inadequate training'With applications reportedly not moving forward in some instances, showroom staff have struggled to provide clear answers to customers, prompting complaints to Transport Department officials and calls for an immediate resolution of the technical problems. Concerns have also been raised over whether the setbacks are linked to software glitches, operational challenges, or inadequate training during the transition to the new system.Responding to the concerns, RTA officials said the Transport Department introduced the VAHAN portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre, to simplify and digitise vehicle-related services across Telangana. They explained that the rollout is being carried out in phases, with modules activated step by step to ensure smoother implementation.According to the department, temporary registration services have already been stabilised and are functioning normally. The fancy number registration module has also been made operational, with 858 successful auctions conducted through the portal so far. Officials added that permanent registration numbers have been issued to 2,200 vehicles across the state.‘Addressing concerns'Authorities said the portal is being progressively stabilised with continuous technical support from NIC, while additional modules are being integrated in stages. The system is expected to become fully operational within the next 15 days, after which all vehicle-related services are expected to run seamlessly.The Transport Department said it is working to address stakeholder concerns during the transition period and remains committed to improving digital governance and citizen services.