Shonkh Tech bags e-RC book contracts worth Rs 678 crore

By Sajeev Nair | 16 Oct 2003

Mumbai: Shonkh Technologies, an IT services provider, has received electronic registration certificate books (e-RC books) contracts to the tune of around Rs 678 crore from the transport departments of three Indian state governments.

The transport departments of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi have provided the contract to Shonkh, under which the company will issue smart card-based e-RC books, which will be issued to vehicle owners under the states'' e-governance projects.

"The contracts for Maharashtra and Gujarat are on a BOOT [build-own-operate-transfer] basis, while that for Delhi is on a BOO [build-own-operate] basis," says Shonkh Technologies president Atul P Anand.

Under the contract with transport department of Maharashtra, valued at Rs 350 crore, the company will issue 1 crore smart card-based e-RC books, starting from October this year, says Anand. "It will be implemented over a 15-year period."

Shonkh will also connect all regional transport offices (RTO) over the intranet and maintain a database on a central server, he says. "CA Satyam ASP has been roped in as the implementation partner."

About the contract from the Gujarat transport department, Anand says the project, valued at Rs 180 crore, has already commenced and Shonkh has issued a total of 1.75 lakh cards. "The company will issue a total of 60 lakh cards over a tenure of 15 years."

Shonkh has also received a Rs 148-crore contract from the transport department of Delhi for issuing 40 lakh e-RCs over a five-year period on a BOO basis. "It will commence from October this year," he adds. "The project will be implemented in partnership with Virag Soft Private."