Be prepared for serpentine queues at RTO any one of these days as archaic software and hardware render system prone to sudden and complete shutdowns
Be prepared for serpentine queues at RTO any one of these days as archaic software and hardware render system prone to sudden and complete shutdowns
Brace yourself for the possibility of serpentine queues if you go to the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) to get something done one of these days, as a sudden and complete shutdown of computer systems can occur at any point of time. With archaic systems and software dating back to 1996, breakdowns have already happened two times this year.
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The outdated systems are giving RTO officials a hard time as they go about their routine work, with some of them working under the constant fear of the entire server-enabled system conking off any given second, fracturing their functioning capability for days.
Some of the software and programmes were developed as early as 1996. Officials say that while an upgrade of old software has not taken place till date, implementation of new software introduced four to five years ago has been partial at best, since some of their modules are still under development and in the testing phase.
2 months, 2 shutdowns
The RTO faced two sudden shutdowns in the past two months. The latest shutdown affected the transport department section, which runs on a software called Tools (Transport Office Online System), which goes back more than 10 years.
Officials speaking on condition of anonymity told MiD DAY that the crash occurred because of old networking devices, with no spares available in the market for the upkeep of the systems.
Officials then had to switch over to the manual mode to operate the systems, which took a lot of time, causing snarling queues at the various counters and officers' desks. Officers somehow managed to complete the day's work on that occasion.
The RTO uses various software, like Vahan for registration and taxation of vehicles of the Non-Transport (NT) section and Tools for transport vehicles. While Vahan was introduced in 2007, Tools was introduced in 1996. Both were developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), a Central Government company.
While the sub-software for permit, taxation and prosecution works remains to be fully developed for Vahan, Tools still runs on outdated versions of Unisware and Oracle operating systems (OS), for which the software companies have stopped providing technical support.
"These OS now have latest versions but we are still using the earliest of versions. For example, the market now has Oracle 10, but we are still using Oracle 6. After they discontinue a particular version, they provide support only for five years. We have repeatedly requested the Transport Department in Mumbai to provide funds for upgrade, but no avail," said an RTO official, requesting anonymity. "We also want to convert all the work to Vahan, but the underdeveloped modules means we are unable to do so."
Officials also said NIC is severely understaffed, with two to three people working for the entire state.
The RTO uses another software called Saarthi for licensing purposes; IT firm Rosemerta is in-charge of printing the smart card driving licences. As for the hardware, so old are the computers and monitors that an RTO official joked they were "flickering disco lights".
"The black-and-white screens suddenly start flickering, making the display look hazy," said the official, requesting anonymity.
Another official complained that network devices manufactured by Lansterm company back in 1998 do not have spare parts available in the market.
To all this, add the staff crunch the RTO is facing, and you have the perfect recipe for chaos if anything goes wrong. "Vacancy levels are at 25 per cent of the sanctioned staff strength, while 25 officers are busy with Census duty," said an official. "Workload has gone up by 50 per cent since 1984 but our staff strength and systems have not kept pace with this demand."
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