Tika R Pradhan

Kathmandu, April 9:

With the objective of making records of vehicles and licences systematic, scientific and accessible at its twelve offices, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) is making preparations to launch a computerised system from the coming fiscal year. “The test phase for the billing of transactions would begin next week,” said administrative director of the DoTM, Dipak Subedi, adding, the DoTM is making preparations to connect all the 12 zonal offices through a computer networking system from the coming fiscal year.

Once the network is set up, each and every detail of the vehicles would be accessible from any of these offices. Subedi added the department was in need of additional 10 per cent of employees to cope with the increasing workload and with the introduction of the new system no new recruitment would be needed. “Hassles would be the experience of the past, while the problems of duplication and other loopholes are also expected to be checked once the system is introduced.”

Computer engineer at the DoTM, Suvash Dhakal, said some 60 per cent of data entry of both vehicle registration records and licence records have been completed. Some 38 people, including operators and supervisors of the Softech Infosys Pvt Ltd, are working to enter data of the licences in three shifts for the last five months. “We have developed a Vehicle Registration System (VRS) and Driving Licence Record System (DLRS) and are testing both the systems,” said Dhakal, who has been handling the project for the DoTM.

“I believe this will increase the efficiency of all the offices by 30 to 40 per cent.” A source at the DoTM said though the project been initiated some two years ago, it was delayed as the system previously developed by the Everest Net Pvt Ltd could not function well. The same company developed a new and advanced system later.

With the provision to record all the bills in computers, bribing at the transport offices and other illegal activities would be controlled once the system is launched. “All the illegal activities, including the theft of vehicles, will be controlled. Brokers who used to earn their living at the transport offices will have to seek other jobs instead,” claimed computer engineer Harish Bhatta, who was sent by the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management to handle the project.

According to Dhakal, if the government provides all the necessary resources, over eight zonal offices could be connected with each other within the coming fiscal year. “All the zonal offices are busy entering old data into the system.” The DoTM is conducting computer orientation programmes to all its staffers. Another training would be provided to them to make them familiar with new softwares.