Road Ministry issues policy data sharing from National Transport Repository

Demand for access from citizens, academics and the private sector to such data continues to grow, the circular stated.

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a policy that will enable safe and secure sharing of critical data available under the National Transport Repository (NTR) with state governments and the private sector. The measure is aimed at ensuring uniformity and legal compliance in data sharing.The NTR includes vehicle registration certificates (RCs) and driving licences (DLs) collected through VAHAN and SARATHI, as well as data generated through e-Challan, the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR), and the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) FASTag system. It currently holds records of more than 390 million vehicles, 220 million driving licences, and related datasets.

Guidelines and framework

“This policy provides clear guidelines in line with recent legal requirements regarding consent for sharing personal data,” the ministry said in a circular dated 18 August.The policy sets out procedures and safeguards to ensure secure and lawful data sharing. It supports government functions, academic research and efforts to promote ease of living and doing business. A framework covering datasets, modes of sharing, and the request and approval process for VAHAN, SARATHI, e-Challan, eDAR and FASTag has been formalised.According to the ministry, “sharing data in a controlled manner can enhance services and benefit research and data-driven decision-making by government organisations, the private sector, and academia.”

Data access and safeguards

Demand for access from citizens, academics and the private sector to such data continues to grow, the circular stated. The ministry added that state governments are required to ensure electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety under Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act, and stressed the importance of maintaining safeguards to prevent data leakage or breach.The objectives of the policy include smooth integration of external applications with the Transport National Register, seamless access to authentic data, and reducing duplication of work. It also seeks to improve services for citizens, researchers, the private sector and government bodies.

Data sharing will be permitted through different modes depending on the user category and type of data. These include API-based sharing, login-based access from portals, password-protected bulk data sharing, mobile applications and public data sharing platforms.

The NTR is maintained by MoRTH under Section 25A and Section 62B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

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