Source: www.khaleejtimes.com
DUBAI — In a bid to ease the number of calls made to its call centre, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled a new package of online services.
The latest development was announced by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director. “The express online services launched last month comprise inquiry after replacing driving licences issued from other countries by RTA-issued licences; inquiry after the status of vehicles whether or not they need technical testing for renewing their registration, which is made either through the number plate or chassis number; inquiry and payment of fines reported against companies; and inquiry and payment of fines through the traffic folder, number plate, offence reference number or driving licence number.
The newly-issued online services portfolio also includes inquiry about the balance of the unified fare card (Nol); inquiry about the fare of using the Metro through specifying the departure and arrival stations besides the selection of Nol card category; and inquiry about the quantity of carbon emissions from vehicles in comparison with the international standards with a view to encouraging the population to contribute to the conservation of the environment,” said Al Tayer.
“The RTA is also keen on diversifying the format of service offering to include the Internet. For this reason, the RTA developed a comprehensive strategy for converting service provision to the online mode, which fits well with the e-Government trends. After all, the initiatives and activities made by the RTA in the online services front have contributed to facilitating the procedures and customer service experience,” said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer revealed that the total number of online services jumped from 24 (procedural and informational) services in 2005 to 164 services in 2011 spanning all services that can be provided online. “The number of transactions processed online has equally jumped from 281,000 transactions in 2008 to about 475,000 transactions in 2011. The proceeds collected online has hit Dh231 million in 2011 compared to about Dh65.6 million in 2008. Thus the rate of using the online services was pushed up from only five per cent in 2005 to as much as 74 per cent in 2011,” he said.
“The number of hits received by the RTA website (www.rta.ae) has jumped from 926,000 hits in 2009 to 5.336 million hits in 2011. The number of text messages leapfrogged from 25 million in 2009 to 34.164 million messages in 2011.The number of RTA online service users soared from 12,677 users in 2006 to about 137,000 users in 2011, and the number of companies registered in the website grew to about 12,000 companies in 2011 compared to about 3,000 companies in 2006.”
Al Tayer explained that new online services launched last month have helped ease the burden on the call centre. He called upon corporate and individual customers to capitalise on RTA online services made available as they will save time and effort.
