Smart cards fail due to lack of connectivity

by GLENN COSTA
Posted on 2009-05-08
PANAJI- Computerisation and connectivity are the mantras in today’s fast moving world and the state transport department had embarked on an ambitious computerisation drive and a work order for the issue of smart cards as permanent drivers licence with information on the embedded chips.
Connectivity to all RTOs with the headquarters through a wide area network or WAN and a central server installed in the main office was also envisaged.
However, instead of this, a server was installed in May 2006 at each RTO with no interconnectivity as no central server was installed at the headquarters.
This connectivity is especially relevant today given the extremely high accident numbers in the state and the enhanced security risk faced by the country in general and the state in particular given that it is a major destination for European tourists.
Police sources too agree and say that there is no sharing of information between RTOs and them and that they have not got any smart card readers. They feel that this could be of great help especially in view of upgrading of date of challans issued, any infringements and suspensions or other misdemeanour.
Sharing of information at their fingertips is a must nowadays, they argue and complain that at present this smart card is only a licence on par with the cardboard ones issued earlier.
The contractor GEL had supplied 20 hand held machines to enable online checking of the smart cards. But these were a waste as they could not be used for want of connectivity thus defeating the very purpose of the smart cards.
“We will try to get the required upgradation and ensure connectivity. I have already spoken to the higher-ups,” the transport director, Mr Arvind Loinkar told ‘The Navhind Times’ when confronted with these details and admitted that they had some readers but at present was restricted to a particular RTP hub.
However, the project manager of the contractor, Ms Revati Muzumdar did not seem to be in sync with this and said that the upgradation was about the registration systems and not about the smart cards connectivity.
“All the information about the person is fed onto the chip on the smart card itself and if the authorities want to get it they just have to swipe it,” she said.
However, it looked as if the modalities of the project were not informed to her.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report for the year ended March 31, 2008 had pulled up the authorities “stating that poor planning in the system development stage has resulted in the development of similar nodules without integration and unnecessary duplication of work, non-utilisation of smart card system for day-to-day online checking.” It also pointed out that “these deficient system designs and incomplete mapping of business rules could pave the way for continued dependence on manual interventions and controls” and recommended that “connectivity should be established and smart card system should be put in use for online checking of licences.”
The department had replied to the CAG that a central sever for the smart card driving licence would be installed.
However, this has still not been done.
Experts and insiders point to a lack of political will to push reform forward and blame the establishment for not forcing the streamlining of operation even after spending a lot of taxpayer money.