In the works: A quick, easy way to register commercial vehicles in Delhi

Stating that the Transport Department aims to “provide relief to people”, a senior official said, “Currently, whenever a resident of Delhi buys a new vehicle for commercial purposes, he/she has to wait at least a month to complete the registration process. Once this change takes place, they can carry out the process using their Aadhaar and E-KYC details at the dealership. They will receive an OTP and once they fill in the requisite information, the registration will be done. It will be easy and swift.”

According to the Transport Department official, “Section 39 of the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory to register a vehicle driven or allowed to be driven in a public place” while there is “self-registration of private /non-commercial vehicles” through dealers.

“Currently, registration of commercial vehicles can only be done at the MLO headquarters for all such vehicles and at the MLO taxi unit in Burari for taxis,” he said.

He said once this rule (Section 39) is amended, the registration process for commercial vehicles will be similar to the one in place for private vehicles. “It will be a sort of self-registration by the buyer at the dealership only.”

Officials said in a week, the department receives around 300-400 applications for verification of registration of commercial vehicles.

The official said this measure, once implemented, will “reduce pendency” and “enhance transparency” at the Regional Transport Office and reduce the workload of employees involved in the commercial vehicle registration process. “The introduction of self-registration (for commercial vehicles) is a significant reform,” he added.

Sources said the proposal had been sent to the Law department, which has vetted it and given clearance. “The file was sent to the Transport Minister (Kailash Gahlot) earlier this month. Once he approves it, and followed by the L-G giving his nod, a draft gazette notification will be issued inviting suggestions from people,” the official said.

“Once this is complete, this file will be sent to the L-G for final approval before it is notified.”

Hailing the proposal, Rajender Kapoor, All India Motor and Goods Transport Association president, said, “It is a welcome step for transporters as registration and verification takes a lot of time in Delhi currently… If digitisation and self-registration like for private vehicles are extended to commercial vehicles, it will put an end to the tout system. It will also increase taxi registrations in Delhi; most vehicle owners purchase vehicles from Haryana and UP and get them registered there.”