Bangalore: Karnataka's transport department turned tech savvy Thursday by launching 16-kb microchip embedded 'smart cards' to replace driving licenses and vehicle registration booklets.



Driving license holders and vehicle owners will have to change over to the smart cards within two years.





The smart card, costing Rs.200, would prevent forgery in licenses and registration booklets, Transport Minister R. Ashok said at a function at which Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa launched the microchip embedded plastic card.



The chip stores the details of the driver/owner and can keep record of traffic violations, conviction and details of road accidents involving the driver and the vehicle.



Five regional transport offices in Bangalore began issuing the smart cards Thursday. By September, the remaining 50 regional transport offices in other parts of Karnataka will also start issuing these cards.