Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 19
In a major relief to owners and drivers of the bustling vehicle population in the state’s commercial hub, the Motor Vehicles Department on Tuesday launched the ‘Vahan 4.0’ and ‘Sarathi 4.0’ – two online applications for processing and issuing of vehicle registration certificate and driving license respectively.
“Within a few minutes from now, with just a click of a button/mouse, the State of Nagaland will leapfrog to a different platform of processing services related to vehicles and driving licenses thus placing us alongside of many states in the country that are engaged to the same purpose”, said Nagaland Transport commissioner, Elias T Lotha, in his keynote address at the launching ceremony held here in the Office of the District Transport Officer.
The Transport commissioner said many people may not immediately notice the efforts of the department towards enabling the State to finally place itself on the online map and still many not immediately realize the “immense impact” that the initiative will have upon their lives.
“It will go a long way in ensuring more quality and speedy service delivery. It will also save applicants from long hours of waiting and numerous visits to the registering and licensing offices as one will now be able to apply for every service online,” Elias said.
Elias said the State Department of Transport (presently Motor Vehicles Department) has come a long way since 1997 when the knowledge and use of computer applications in Nagaland was very new and concentrated to few persons.
He acknowledged the then additional Transport commissioner, Meren Paul, and a couple of computer literate officials including Er, Lima Ao, present additional director of School Education and Imsa Naga, the first principal of Institute of Computer and Information Technology (ICIT), for designing the Nagasoft Novell based DOS and providing the module to the department, which was successfully launched in 1997.
The Transport commissioner said that was the beginning of the journey of computerization of the Department and added, “Nagaland also enjoys the distinction of being one of the first states in the country to provide vehicle-related computerized service processes and delivery.”
Elias also expressed gratitude to the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for their tireless efforts directed to improving the application through workshops and seminars and even involving stakeholders from across the country and the State Government for providing essential resources.
“Here we are today with the latest generation of their toils and dedication, the Vahan 4.0 and Sarathi 4.0, that addresses multiple issues and needs hitherto lacking in its first generation (earlier versions of Vahan and Sarathi),” he said.
Senior technical director & state informatics officer, NIC Nagaland, Hemanta Kumar Saikia and technical director & transport project coordinator, NIC Nagaland, Lanusungkum Aier, highlighted the objectives, services and road map of Vahan 4.0 and Sarathi 4.0.
It may be mentioned Vahan and Sarathi are derived from Sanskrit words. Vahan or ‘Vahana’(meaning vehicle in Sanskrit) application will cater to issues and activities related to registration of vehicles and Sarathi (charioteer in Sanskrit) application for issues and activities related to driving license.
Senior DTO, Dimapur Z Lovikali Yepthomi, proposed vote of thanks.
DTO Dimapur office to reopen
The District Transport Officer, Motor Vehicles Department, Dimapur, in a notification dated June 19, has informed that the Office of DTO Dimapur, which was closed for three weeks due to upgradation to ‘Vahan 4.0’ and ‘Sarathi 4.0’, would reopen on Wednesday (June 20).
