Patna, May 20: Owners of vehicles will no longer have to go to the state transport department to pay taxes. They can now do it online.

Transport minister Brishen Patel today said the vehicle owners could pay their taxes through the e-payment facility on the department’s website. The facility, that will be operational from the last week of this month, will help people save time and facilitate the process of tax collection.

“The vehicle owners will be able to pay taxes through the e-payment service from the last week of this month. You can just visit the department website and pay your taxes,” said Patel at a news meet.

The National Informatics Centre has developed the software that will facilitate the process of e-payments. State Bank of India (SBI), through which the payments will be made, helped developing it.

The minister said those who wish to pay their taxes online would need to have an SBI account.

“It will be mandatory to have an account with SBI. The transfer of money will be completed only through this bank. No other bank is authorised to provide the service,” said Patel.

He added: “Once the payment is complete, the money will be deducted from the vehicle owner’s account. The account holder will be given a temporary voucher.”

On the validity of the temporary voucher, the minister said: “The customer will get the original receipt through speed post within 15 days of making the payment. The vehicle owners will be required to pay Rs 25 extra as speed post charges. They can also collect the original receipt from the department office within 15 days of making the payment.”

The minister also said high-security registration plates would be introduced in the state soon. The thick aluminium plates coated in chromium would be difficult to replicate.

Patel said: “It will be easy to track vehicles with these number-plates and help in preventing criminal activities.”

Uday Singh Kumawat, principal secretary, transport department, spoke on the newly framed boat safety rules to be introduced in the state.