93% of RTA services online

As many as 163 of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) 170 services are available online, which makes it one of the few government bodies in the country with 93 per cent presence on the internet.

Though the response to all of its online or tech services is not encouraging, RTA is going ahead with its plans to introduce more online and tech-enabled services.

Some of its recently launched services such as online vehicle registration, licence renewal and online number plate auctions have done well, which has encouraged the authority to come up with more such services.

“We are planning to introduce electronic kiosks in malls and public places that will help people renew their licences and vehicle registration, we are also introducing digital pens that will help driving institutes to issue new licences on the spot. We are also trying to link all the opticians electronically so that can send us eye test results for candidates online,” said Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, speaking on the sidelines of Gitex, where he displayed some of the new technologies that are being piloted.

Another important technology that is being piloted currently is the road safety system that links heavy trucks to the central traffic control centre.

Around 40 trucks have been fitted with certain high tech gadgets that keep track of the truck’s whereabouts as well as the wear and tear of its tyres.

Interestingly, it also monitor’s driver behaviour and alerts the traffic department immediately if there is any danger lurking.

One of the important recent online additions is the Nol top up facilities through internet, which according to Bahorzyan has seen good response so far.

“RTA’s aim in introducing so many services online is to offer greater convenience to people as well as reduce traffic at its customer care centres, hence we urge our customers to use our online as well as phone services,” he added.