Karnataka: Six months on, transport dept yet to adopt contactless services

BENGALURU: Nearly six months after the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) launched Aadhaar authentication-based contactless services, vehicle owners in Karnataka are unable to avail them.
Reason: The transport department is yet to implement the facility here despite several states launching it. In March 2021, MORTH issued a notification listing 18 transport-related services (see box) that can be availed via Aadhaar authentication without visiting RTOs.
They include renewal of driving licence, vehicle registration and learner’s licence, among others.In fact, Karnataka, which imposes the highest road tax in the country, is among the few states that are still insisting that even LL applicants visit RTOs. Most states have launched Aadhaar-based contactless online LL tests from home itself.

While there are several complaints of corruption, red-tapism, presence of touts at RTOs and crowding during Covid, the delay on the department’s part to implement contactless services has raised eyebrows. In fact, MORTH recently asked all states/UTs to send status reports on ‘faceless/contactless’ services after it got to know that states like Karnataka have not implemented it.
Additional commissioner for transport (environment and e-governance) J Purushotham said: “We are working on implementing contactless services but it is still in the initial stage. I can’t give a date for its implementation.”
Another official said more than 20 transport services are available online through the Parivahan portal (parivahan.gov.in), but only 10-15% vehicle owners are using them. “But contactless services will take some more time,” he said.
Many motorists alleged the department is intentionally delaying the launch. “Bengaluru is the tech capital, but has still not implemented contactless services. Corruption could be eliminated through contactless services,” said a vehicle owner at Kasturi Nagar RTO.
Other states show the way
Delhi
Thirty-three major transport-related services, including those to do with driving licence, registration certificate, permits and termination of hypothecation, are available online
Telangana
Telangana government was among the first to introduce contactless services. It launched the FEST (Friendly Electronic Services of Transport Department) app and is offering 17 services online
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is providing 22 transport services related to driving licence and registration certificates at the doorstep. The documents are delivered through speed post to residential addresses of the applicant/vehicle owner within seven days. An SMS is also sent to the applicant with the tracking ID of the speed post.