New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced a new framework for sharing transport data under the National Transport Repository (NTR), bringing data access in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
The policy by MoRTH introduces a consent-driven and legally uniform process for handling sensitive datasets related to vehicles, licenses, traffic enforcement, accidents and tolling.
The NTR serves as the central repository for India’s transport data, consolidating information from major platforms such as Vahan, Sarathi, eChallan, eDAR and FASTag. Together, these systems account for over 390 million registered vehicles and 220 million driving licenses, along with extensive traffic and tolling records.
This data is used by ministries, state departments, enforcement bodies, academic institutions and private organisations, but until now, requests were managed without a structured legal framework.
Under the new guidelines, every request for data must undergo a formal approval process that specifies dataset type, intended purpose and compliance requirements.
Only authorised entities will gain access and use will be restricted strictly to approved purposes. The framework aims to safeguard citizen privacy while supporting academic research, digital governance and innovation in transport systems.
MoRTH stated that the move balances the need for data-driven development with privacy protection. By regulating access through a legally robust system, the government seeks to enable smart mobility solutions and improved public safety while reinforcing transparency and accountability in the management of sensitive transport data.
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