RTO has smart cards but dumb work culture

NAGPUR: The transport department had began issuing 'smart card' driving licenses and registration certificates (RCs) a couple of years ago. However, in the absence of 'smart work practices' applicants are being forced to wait for as long as 90 days to get their smart card driving licenses. According to rules, a new licence should be issued within one week of receipt of the application.
City RTO office has completely computerised the process of issuing driving licences, registration of vehicles and other related jobs.Instead of helping people, the new systems have ended up delaying things. Many applicants of permanent licences complain that the delay at times stretches over a month and they are made to run from pillar to post to get their licence.
"I cleared the test at city RTO office in April but have not received my licence so far. Officials only say that I will get it within a couple of days each time I go there," said Ashok Dhage (name changed), an applicant. City RTO office gets over 300 permanent driving licences applications and around 400 applications for vehicle registrations each day.
The delay is not just in issuing of driving licences but also in RC, visitors told TOI. "Transport department boasts of an online service but there is no mechanism to trace the status of applications online. We are forced to come to every day to check status," said Narayan Naik, a transporter. Computerization was supposed to speed up the process of registration and transfer of vehicles and cancellation of hypothecation clause on payment of bank loan but it has not, rued another visitor Prashant Nimbalkar.
He also pointed out that the licence issue centre opened at around 11 am and closed at 2 pm. Earlier, the window used to remain open from 10 am to 5 pm, he added.
RTO Vijay Lande was not available to explain. However, other staff blame the private operator Rosmerta Technologist Ltd that has the contract for issue of smart cards. "All the certificates and licences are sent to them every day," they said. The personnel of private operator were not ready to comment either. They even refuse to give their name.
Officials come late:
Like rural RTO, a majority of city RTO staff don't report to work on time and it deteriorates the system even more. The office should begin work at 10am but most officials walk in anytime between 12 noon and 12.30pm. As a result, people visiting the office suffer. This is despite several complaints filed with RTO Vijay Lande, who himself is hardly available at his office. The most affected sections licence, transport and motor vehicle sections. The in-charges of these sections do not come to office before 12 noon.
Ironically, many seniors including RTO reached after 12 noon. During argument with visitors they say they had to check the heavy vehicles at nakas on state and national highways.