With this, holding forged or multiple driving licences of different states, which had earlier helped drivers booked for violating traffic norms sometimes, even involved in fatal accidents to evade prosecution and resume work in another state a thing of the past. Sources in the ministry said that the process of establishing the online national register and migration of the states' database to the central pool would be completed in the next six months. An official document claims that already 100% computerization of the data and connectivity has been achieved in 23 states. Out of the 990 RTOs, 919 have already been completely computerised.

"Though the facilities are already there in place in case of individual states, but the question is whether these are accessible to others. Once the national registry becomes operational, it will put an end to several deficiencies in the system," said a ministry official.

He added that with the information available online, the RTOs can verify the facts about persons applying for driving licences. "It has been observed that that many people having commercial driving licences have more than one driving licence. So, when they are caught for offences or are booked they simply shift their base and start driving vehicles with the other licences they already have, in another state. The national registry will put an end to this. This will also help an employer hire new drivers after verifying their credentials," said S P Singh, a senior fellow with the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT).

Source: Times Of India By Dipak Kumar Dash National registry of licences in 6 months