Functions
of the Department
The
main functions of the Department are (i) enforcement of
the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules (ii) registration of vehicles
(iii) collection of taxes and fees (iv) rendering services
like grant of driving licences, issue of certificate of
fitness, grant of permits to vehicles, etc. Apart
from this more importance is also given to Road Safety measures
and to the Control of Automobile Pollution.
q Motor
Vehicles Department is one of the significant revenue earning
departments of the Government. Government have taken several
measures to make the functioning of Regional Transport Offices
more people friendly and efficient.
q Agents
and touts have been removed from the Regional Transport
Offices. It has not only helped to smoothen the functioning
but also eradicated the evils of corrupt practices in offices. The
common man is emboldened to approach the offices for legitimate
service without aid and support of agents and touts.
q An
effective and efficient counter system has been introduced
in all offices to render various services to public.
q The
policy of accepting only one application form from a person
has been introduced.
q The
system of issuing acknowledgment slip for application and
records has been introduced.
q On
every Saturday except holidays, preliminary written tests
for issue of Learner's Driving Licences are conducted in
the jurisdiction of Regional Transport Officers and Joint
Regional Transport Officers.
q The
date of test and venue of the driving test are informed
to the applicant on the day of passing of learner's test.
q The
procedures are accepting motor vehicle tax and fees are
simplified in order to avoid long queues and crowding in
front of the Regional Transport Offices.
q The
Counter Clerks, who accept tax and fees, are authorised
to sign themselves in the tax licence and fee receipts.
q Introducing
one time tax system has restricted the frequent visits of
the vehicle owners to the Regional Transport Offices for
the payment of tax.
q One
time tax upto 15 years, in respect of newly registered motor
cars, motor cycles, scooters, three wheelers, etc. has been
introduced with effect from 1st April, 1998.
q The
owners of two wheelers below 95 cc have been given the facility
to pay vehicle tax in lump for 5 years or 10 years or
15 years at their choice.
q The
facility of payment of vehicle tax in respect of private
vehicles and fees, through FRIENDS Citizens Integrated Service
Centre at Thiruvananthapuram and all district head quarters
has been introduced.
q Physically
handicapped persons, including the blind and the deaf, with
more than 40% disability are exempted from payment of motor
vehicles tax for their motor vehicles for their own use.
q A
Public Grievance Redressal Cell is functioning in all offices
of the Department.
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Introduction of Smart Card
As
part of Modernisation it is proposed to introduce the Smart
Card and Smart Optical Card technology in the issuance of
driving licences and issuance of Certificates of Registration
respectively. The Smart Card has an embedded microchip
enabling it to process and store information. The
electronic data stored in the micro chip of the Smart Card
is capable of being read and written using terminals and
devices.
Control
of Automobile Pollution
The
emission of smoke from automobile is now posing a serious
threat to human health. Government is giving more
important to control vehicular pollution. In this
regard, smoke testing equipments has been provided to all
Regional Transport Offices with a view to conduct check
of automobile pollution. In addition licences have
been issued to start automobile pollution testing centres
in private sector. 105 such centres were licenced
in private sector. Carrying of pollution under control
certificate(PUCC), in vehicles, is made mandatory.
Road
Safety
Steps
have been taken during recent times to improve road safety.
In this regard, a High Level Committee had been constituted
under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary
to Government, in May 1997. The following measures
have been implemented on the recommendations of the above
committee.
·
Driving test has been made strict and rigorous.
·
Standards has been fixed for the driving test.
·
Driving Licence test conducted by a team of 2 officers
of different ranks.
·
Super checking on driving test is introduced.
·
The number of candidates to be tested on a day is
fixed at 40.
·
Driving licences are issued at the spot.
·
An objective type written test is introduced for
obtaining learner's driving
licences.
·
The procedures for the grant of International Driving
Permit has been simplified to the extent that the applicant
need not produced either VISA or Air Travel Ticket and also
need not undergo the test of proficiency in driving.
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·
The procedure for the grant of driving licences to
non-resident Keralites who hold a valid foreign licence
are simplified to the extent that they do not undergo
the driving test.
·
The procedures in the issue of Certificate of Fitness
to vehicles has been
revamped. The Certificate of Fitness test is
made more efficient and
transparent.
·
Super Checking is introduced in Fitness Tests.
·
The Certificate of Fitness is issued on the same
day.
·
The Regional Transport Officer and Joint Regional
Transport Officer will
inspect vehicles over 20 years of age.
·
Speed checking of vehicles is introduced with the
help of Hand Held
Traffic Radars.
