Smart cards with vendors’ details

To crack its whip on illegal vendors in New Delhi area, authorities have introduced a smart card scheme for all registered vendors. HT reports.

To crack its whip on illegal vendors in New Delhi area, authorities have introduced a smart card scheme for all registered vendors.

HT Image

The smart cards have chips inside them with details such as the vendor's name, registration number, licence number and date of expiry.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had received a number of complaints that vendors were making duplicates of their cards by putting fake names and passing it off as original cards. By introducing smart cards that are computerised, the civic agency hopes to keep a check on them, as these cards cannot be duplicated.

"We will be able to use smart cards to ensure that unlicensed vendors can be found out easily and booked. We used to come across several cases of duplication by vendors, so the scheme has been introduced. The smart cards can be evaluated through computers and thus they can be verified," said a senior NDMC official.

Another reason for the introduction of the plan was to counter security issues/problems, if any.

The scheme is part of a bigger plan by the civic body to implement e-governance in its area. Under the plan, smart cards will replace the older forms of identification cards. They will be issued to all employees and will be used to control access to its headquarters. The plan also includes providing smart cards in schools.

The smart cards will be given to each student and will contain information about class results, health history and attendance.