Vahan, which is likely to be launched in Chandigarh by the first week of November, is in its testing stage these days. Officials of the Registering and Licensing Authority are being provided training at the National Informatics Centre to execute the software.

The software was launched as a pilot project in Chennai last year, after which, all metros had adopted it. A few states including Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have already started to use the software.

With the help of Vahan, the registering and licensing authorities and transport departments of all states and union territories will be connected online, with their headquarters at Hyderabad. Any changes pertaining to the registration or the legal status of a vehicle can be accessed online through this software.

Registering and Licensing Officer Jairam said: “Vahan attempts to bring about uniformity in the registration of vehicles by issuing smart cards (registration cards), to be operational all over India. Though we are already using a software to register vehicles, as per a Central policy, this software is to be used as a nationwide mechanism for the registration of vehicles. So, we are going to adopt it soon.”

According to government officials, Vahan will help provide better citizen services, monitoring government revenue, management, faster implementation of revision in government policies and instant accesses to information to any department, among others.

While implementing the software, the RLA will be required to maintain several databases including a list of vehicle-dealers, driving schools, banks, regional transport offices, makers and models, insurance companies, reasons for blacklisting a particular vehicle and jurisdiction of the concerned Registering and Licensing Office, etc.

Ques: How will Vahan work?

* Registration of new vehicle/other state vehicle/temporarily registered vehicle / consulate vehicle

* Addition/removal/continuation of hypothecation on registration card (RC)

* Change of address or transfer of owner in RC

* Any kind of alteration in the vehicle

* Renewal of registration for private vehicles and issuing no objection certificates

* Surrender or Cancellation of RC

* Temporary registration

* Issue of fresh or temporary permit, renewal, replacement, surrender, transfer or cancellation of permit

* Replacement of vehicle or change of address in permit

* Recording stolen vehicle