Now get your learning driving licence online thanks to new MV act

Your trip to the RTO may not be necessary. Expect heavy fines from today if you violate traffic rules

Now you can get your learning driving licence online. There would be an Aadhaar based verification for the grant of licence. Not only would this ensure the integrity of the online services, but would also prevent the creation of duplicate licences.

The rule comes into force following the Cabinet approval of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that provides for linking of driving licence and vehicle registration with Adhaar-based platform.

"We have proposed an amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act where people need to have Aadhaar number to apply for driving licence and need not to visit transport offices to get a learning driving licence as it all will be online," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The government has also decided to make an all-India register for driving licences and vehicles. This would be available across the country and will also prevent
de-duplication of licences and registration of stolen vehicles.

Once the bill is approved in Parliament, then vehicle dealers would be authorised to issue vehicle numbers and register them through an all-India electronic register. The government has also proposed compulsory vehicle recall, amendments like third party insurance, relief to good Samaritans, stricter punishment and fines to traffic rule violators, etc.

Other features of the bill:

The important aspects of the bill are 100 per cent e-governance to be brought in transport sector. Identity verification using Aadhaar will be used, bad roads contractor to be liable for fine, drivers will included in third part Insurance and claims would be time bond.

The bill specifically targets traffic offenders with stringent penal provisions. The bill has identified priority areas for improving road safety. Stricter penalties are proposed for high risk offences such as drunken driving, dangerous driving, overloading, non-adherence to safety norms by drivers such as use of seat belt, helmets.

The bill provides for facilitating delivery of services to the citizens and transporters. The bill aims to provide for maximum governance with minimum government. This would help in reducing the harassment faced by the stakeholders in the RTO offices. A national data base of vehicles and driving licences would help in safety and security and avoid malpractices.

A ten fold increase has been made in the amount of compensation awarded under a simplified process of claims disbursal wherein the family of an accident victim would get compensation of Rs 5 lakh as settlement within four months of the accident. Presently it takes at least four to five years for an award," he said.

In the accidental death cases arising from hit and run accidents, the bill proposes an increase of compensation to Rs 2 lakh, an eight fold increase over current.

OneIndia News