Odisha Rolls Out New SMS Gateway “ODISTA” For Vehicle-Related Services

Bhubaneswar: The Transport Authority of Odisha on Wednesday rolled out a new SMS platform “ODISTA” to facilitate applicants avail hassle-free services related to driving license and vehicles.

Prior to the new facility, the government used to send messages to applicants through Sarathi and Vahan SMS gateway.

Now applicants of LL/DL will receive SMS after submission of application, payment of fee, booking of slot for DL/LL test, result of the test over SMS from ODISTA. Similarly, applicants of other DL-related services like renewal, change of address, etc will also get SMS on the new platform.

Vehicle owners will receive SMS during vehicle registration, fee and task payment, application for permit, application for fitness, grant of permit and fitness, other vehicle-related services like renewal of registration, transfer of ownership, issue, and payment on e-challan, pollution check.

As per a directive, STA plans to send SMS to vehicle owners to pay tax against whom tax is pending, to apply for permit before the end of validity, before end of validity of fitness. It will also send SMS alerts to renew the registration of vehicles, renew the DL in time.

The transport authority aims to reach out to citizens to provide more qualitative service and has asked people to report in case they receive SMS asking for payment or offering any service from any other SMS gateway other than ODISTA.