UID number will improve security: Nilekani

Ahmedabad, Dec 8: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman, Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday, Dec 8, said the UID number would be useful in improving security in the country.

"When we have the full coverage, that is once everybody has the number, which may take number of years, it will help in identification of a person," Nilekani said.

Nilekani was speaking on sidelines of a function orgainsed by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (Gujarat Branch) where he delivered lecture on 'UID Project: Issues and Challenges'.

"There may be a time when hotels may require UID number to get a room there. Once a person gets the number and if he is suspected (of terrorist activity) he can be traced," he said.

"Our goal is to start issuing numbers within 18 months and our clock started ticking on Aug 12. So by Feb 2011 we need to start issuing numbers," Nilekani said.

"For this we need cooperation of all the agencies. What we are doing is building the highways to collect information but the actual traffic on the highways or speed depends on the political will and desire of the agencies to collect information," Nilekani said.

OneIndia News