GUJRAT: The applicants for the universal vehicles registration have been facing troubles due to the slow new online system.

The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department had launched an online universal system of vehicles registration across the province around a month ago, asking the motorists to first get online appointment to file an application.

The applicants had to submit their applications with the Dealers Vehicle Registration System (DVRS) franchises in their respective districts as well as the department offices.

However, most of the applicants complained that after getting the online appointment when they would visit the DVRS franchise or E&T office on their turn, the link of appointment management system (AMS) would often be found down.

The official sources said only three to four applications could be submitted through the online system due to the server’s link at the time and date of appointment. At least 87 DVRS branches were established by the department in all districts of Punjab to facilitate the applicants besides the department’s own offices.

The officials of Motorcycle Dealers Association in Gujrat have also raised the issue with the department that the applicants would surely have to visit the department offices to submit the file of documents after the online application.

Moreover, they said, even after the arrival of registration cards from the department in Lahore, the applicants had to first go to the courier service’s office to collect the registration card of the vehicle and then he had to visit to collect the file of his vehicle’s documents from the E&T office, which had complications. They deplored that rather than making the system easy for the public, every new step of the government had been causing more troubles for the people.

Meanwhile, the issuance of registration cards and number plates have been facing the backlog of at least 18 months as around 50,000 registration number plates have been pending with the department whereas 15,000 registration cards were also pending to be issued to the applicants.

A senior official at Gujrat E&T department said the issue had surfaced due to the pressure of applications from across the province on the same system and the problem related to the server was being resolved but it might require some more time. He said the department high-ups were aware of the issue, which had nothing to do with the district offices.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2020