Lucknow: The token management system (TMS), conceived and developed by the regional office of UIDAI in Lucknow, has been rolled out across the country to streamline Aadhaar services and reduce waiting time for citizens visiting UIDAI regional offices.The nationwide rollout was announced on Tuesday during the 17th Aadhaar Day celebrations at the Aadhaar Samvaad event in Kolkata.Under the new system, residents can book appointments by scanning a QR code or through the UIDAI portal (sewa.uidai.gov.in) and receive a digital token for a scheduled visit instead of waiting in long queues.The facility is free of cost, allows advance bookings round the clock, and provides same-day appointments at regional offices during notified hours.The citizen-centric digital queue management system was launched by UIDAI chief executive officer Saurabh Vijay; UIDAI member Prof Mausam; deputy director general (DDG), UIDAI headquarters, Vivek Chandra Verma; and DDG, UIDAI regional office, Lucknow, Lt Col Prashant Kumar Singh.The system is the brainchild of Lt Col Prashant Kumar Singh, a 1996 batch SCRA officer and 2000 batch IRSME officer, who conceived and led its development at the Lucknow regional office before it was adopted for use across the country.The system was first introduced in Lucknow as a Tatkal appointment facility to manage heavy footfall. Around 70 Tatkal slots are made available every working day and can be increased to about 120 depending on demand. The regional office also handles around 140 regular appointments, which are typically booked nearly 10 days in advance.An official source said the Lucknow model would serve as the template for all UIDAI regional offices, while allowing each office to configure the number of daily tokens, appointment speed, advance booking window and office timings according to local requirements.The source said the Lucknow office has customised appointments based on visitor patterns. Mondays witness the highest number of walk-in applicants, while Fridays record the lowest footfall, leading to different allocations of appointment and walk-in slots on different days.The source said that around 65% of applicants who book appointments in advance turn up, compared with nearly 95% attendance for same-day bookings. The system also accommodates residents using basic mobile phones who are unable to scan QR codes.According to UIDAI, the digital token system will reduce overcrowding, improve queue management and make Aadhaar service delivery more efficient. Officials said it would especially benefit people travelling from distant districts by enabling them to plan their visits in advance and avoid unnecessary trips.
