Date:19/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121959870600.htm

Tamil Nadu

High security number plates for vehicles soon: Minister

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M. Moorthy.

FACILITY: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru flagging off new buses at Ariyalur district onWednesday.

ARIYALUR: The State government would soon introduce high-security number plates for vehicles so as to help track them easily, the State Transport Minister K. N. Nehru said.

The technology, he said, would help locate a vehicle in any part of the country, he said speaking after declaring open the office of the Regional Transport Officer at Ariyalur on Wednesday, Mr. Nehru said that Tamil Nadu was a pioneer in the introduction of latest technology in transport-related services.

The ‘Smart Card System’ for vehicles introduced at the transport offices in Chennai, Cuddalore and Sivagangai and computerisation of all transport offices were some of the major steps which aimed at ensuring transparency in services and preventing forgery of records. Special camps were being held in colleges for issuing driving licences to college students and the process of issuing licences has also been simplified.

Every sixth citizen of Tamil Nadu possessed a vehicle, indicating the growing demand for expeditious services by the Transport Department. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has sanctioned 30 additional Regional Transport Office and motor vehicle inspectors’ unit offices over the last two years. This, in turn, had resulted in the increase in the department’s revenue from Rs.1,200 crore during 2006-07 to Rs.2,000 crore this year in the State, he said.

Mr.Nehru, who also holds charge of Agriculture Department, said offices for the Joint Director of Agriculture and Assistant Director of Horticulture would be started in Ariyalur within a week’s time.

The Principal Secretary and Commissioner for Transport, S. Machendranathan, said that the RTO office in Ariyalur would bring the department’s services closer to the residents of the district and appealed to the people to take maximum advantage of the facility.

The District Collector R. Sudalaikannan was among those who spoke.

Mr.Nehru also flagged off bus services on Tiruchi-Chidambaram and Ariyalur-Kumbakonam routes.