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DTC wants to become an e-corporation

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DQW Bureau
New Update

Gunjan Gupta

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Taking a big step forward in the direction of e-governance, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) introduced its computerized bus pass system for the masses of Delhi, last week. The introduction is done to a turn at Scindia House. Connaught Place and the remaining 24 centers all over Delhi are slated to get computerized within the next six months.

With the help of new draw up and infused technology in the department, the data capturing and management of logistics has become lot more proficient. Unlike previously, there are two documents, bus pass and a photo ID card, to identify that person who owns that particular pass. Each applicant is photographed by a digital camera and issued an ID card, valid for one year for general public and five months for students.

Bus pass is valid in conjunction with the ID card only and has multiple months' validity, ranging from one to five, as per the choice. Both have a common 12 digit number, which can be deciphered and decoded anytime. The photo ID also has a barcode, that zips all the information about the applicant, one to ensure security and information and second, it makes the renewal process unruffled.

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A little hitch here is that as of now, pass is being made only for one month, because authorities are not equipped with the security paper presently, which should take another two weeks time. This special paper contains an eight-digit number, four in large fonts and four in small, to avoid the replica.

PK Gupta, IT Advisor, DTC, sounded very relaxed and happy with the initiation of the idea, for which he joined DTC. He states the process as an outcome of the experience of many years. Almost all the rules and regulations in the organization, happening for past 30 years have been revised.

The bus passes have a whole new element of re-engineered business process. From now onwards, there is no requirement for a photograph along with the form, the security deposit rule of Rs 50 has been withdrawn, pass can be renewed within five days before the expiry date and it is duly verified by DTC, more than ever before.

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A completely unique feature that DTC has introduced for verification purposes is that out of 800 plus registered schools in Delhi, a database of 450 scanned signatures of the principals and head of institutions has been maintained. The signatures on the form of any school student who comes for the bus passes are matched with the one in that database. 

Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) has developed the software and the modus operandi for converting DTC into e-DTC. The relationship can be explained with the fact that DTC has not made major investments into the transformation. ECIL, which is a franchisee for them, has put in the money, the software and the people. 

Currently at the operational center, the people at the technical counters are trained from its headquarters at Hyderabad. DTC staff is basically for the specific jobs like, verification of documents, issue of destination pass and cash collection.

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The other side of coin is to hear from people who are actually getting it done, who have certain complaints about the innovation. The procedure of getting the pass has become lot more tedious and tiresome for two reasons. One, the forms are available only in a building other than Scindia House center, and not within the same premises and second, the university and local bus depots do not have the forms applicable for computerized bus passes, till now.

The theory of onset discommodes are understandable in any system. But the relaxing factor is that the initial hiccups are expected to be over within three weeks. One of the two main problems which require immediate attention is that there has been a lot of confusion, since people tend to go from one counter to another, as they are not yet fully prepared for the process. As a matter of fact, there are four leg computers, which require the data for making passes. Secondly, perfect handling of logistics deserves some time, before it actually experiences a kick move.

The DTC is planning for services like delivery of bus passes at the doorsteps, renewal on the Net, mobile vans for issue of passes, a common server for storage of whole data and online information for all bus routes, both local and interstate. It is also working towards making Scindia House a hub for all the other centers. An inquiry call center will also be functional here, in the coming months.

DTC has gone into a major revival of the official website at www.dtc.nic.in, from where one can even get the application form.

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