Vehicle registration and licence data leak: Centre tightens access to transport databases

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the complete leak of vehicle registration and driving licence data, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stepped up security measures. Data access has now been restricted to government agencies and institutions approved by the Central Government, with stringent conditions imposed. Approved entities must appoint designated officers responsible for receiving data, and authorisation letters for these appointments are also mandatory.

Vehicle owners are the ones bearing the brunt of the data leak. Cybercriminal groups are using the leaked information to send fake messages claiming that traffic fines have been imposed, thereby cheating people of money.

The leaked data originated from the Centre’s key software systems: Vahan for vehicle registration, Sarathi for issuing driving licences, E-Challan for handling traffic violations, the Integrated Road Accident Database for accident data, and FASTag used for toll collection.

Apart from the police, the Motor Vehicles Department, national and state-level government agencies involved in transport planning, and insurance companies, data from the Vahan server must also be shared with private agencies such as High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) manufacturers.

Although guidelines exist for data-sharing, allegations persist that there are no effective safeguards to prevent leaks from these private entities.

Officials, however, maintain that the software framework is secure and that only limited data is shared with such agencies.