VRC SMART OPTICAL CARD

The Smart Optical Card for Vehicle Registration Certification is an e-governance initiative of the state governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The project aims to provide a hi-tech, innovative, secure and convenient service to all vehicle owners.

The project is being executed in partnership with Shonkh Technologies International Ltd. (STIL) in the BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) mode with C&S playing the role of technology and implementation partner.

Aimed at replacing the conventional paper RC book with a smart optical card

The smart optical card combines a chip card with an optical card providing a high amount of storage on a poly-carbonate card. The optical strip has a capacity of 1.5 MB and operates on WORM (Write Once Read Many times) technology making data completely tamper-proof. This strip carries all graphical data including the owner’s photograph, chassis number shading, signature or thumb print of the owner and signature of the RTO. Multiple sets of records can be carried on the strip to account for vehicle transfer or resale.

The 4KB microprocessor chip carries textual information relating to the registration of the vehicle, specifications of the vehicle, the details of the owner, hypothecation information, insurance information and taxation details.

The poly-carbonate material of the card is also used in making the canopies of fighter aircraft. Hence the card is durable and lasts for over 15 years.

The solution envisages the computerization of the entire vehicle registration process to make it more efficient and customer-friendly.

The card facilitates on-road verification by enforcement staff. Authorities use handheld readers to verify the bona fides of the vehicle owner and also check for past offences. They can also record new offences and issue challans.

The process will operate out of all RTOs in the two states and ensure current and updated data availability at all locations using a central database and state-wide connectivity.

For the User

No need to carry multiple sets of documents – RC book, insurance, tax receipts, NOC

Secure means of data storage since the smart card cannot be tampered

Theft-proofing vehicle since stolen vehicles are usually re-registered in other RTOs in the state but with the computerization of the registration process, stolen vehicles can easily be pin-pointed

Easier and more transparency in communication with RTO during registration process

For the Government

Prevent of tax evasion especially in commercial vehicles where RC book was usually tampered with in the past

Better record keeping and an efficient MIS of vehicle registration due to the computerization of the registration process

Easier on-road verification by enforcement staff using handheld terminals

Reduction in crimes related to vehicle-theft since stolen vehicles cannot be easily re-registered

Status of a RC application can be made known the agents, dealers and vehicle owners since the computerized system tracks it all the way