Uttar Pradesh launches WhatsApp chatbot for transportation services, bringing RTO functionality to citizens' fingertips

The initiative is part of the Uttar Pradesh government's digital transformation. document

“To make government services more accessible and efficient, Uttar Pradesh Transport Ministry has launched a 24×7 WhatsApp chatbot to provide citizens with services related to critical transportation directly,” the official said on Saturday (May 3, 2022).

“Vehicle registration services, driving permit details, challenge status and more people can access in the queue in the RTO office by using a chatbot,” they said.

The initiative was launched on Friday (May 2, 2025) as part of the state's digital transformation. The new service is designed to ensure transparent and timely support of the widely used platform for citizens.

“This WhatsApp chatbot reflects our commitment to using technology for citizen welfare,” said Transportation Commissioner Brajesh Narain Singh. “This brings the department closer to the public and is a step towards transparent, efficient and responsive governance.”

He explained that the chatbot eliminates the need for citizens to queue up long periods or visit RTO offices to conduct routine inquiries and tasks. From checking Challan’s details to updating a driver’s license, you can now manage everything from the comfort of your home with just a smartphone.

The service is integrated with the central Vahan and Sarthi databases to ensure that the information shared with users is real-time and authenticated. This ensures accuracy and transparency, especially for services involving legal compliance or payment-related updates.

To ensure inclusion, chatbots can be available in multiple languages, making it easy for people to access and use the service. “This feature is particularly useful in states with linguistic diversity like Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

In addition to providing quick answers, chatbots also provide step-by-step guides for common services such as road tax payments, ownership transfers, and application status tracking. “This helps reduce confusion, reduce paperwork and speed up solutions,” the official noted.

Transportation officials say citizens can start using chatbots by saving 8005441222 numbers on their phones and sending “HI” messages on WhatsApp. They added: “The chatbot will immediately respond to the menu of available services, accessible 24×7.”