KATHMANDU, Jan 1: The number of recipients of 'smart' driving licenses from the Ekantakuna-based Department of Transport Management has surpassed 350 thousand.
According to the Department, in a period of the past four years, issued smart licenses to 354,000 and 203,000 are in queue to obtain the electronic document.
The office had started the service four years ago and until last year, the service was available only from the Department and now all transport offices across the country issue the smart licenses.
Any individual passing the written exam for acquiring driving license and successfully completing the 'trial' are eligible to receive the smart cards and so far 557,000 (for both new and renewed services) have paid the revenue, seeking smart cards.
Though the Department is now facing relatively less flow of service seekers than in the past, more people than in other places visit it seeking service.
However, printing of all smart cards to be issued by all transport offices takes place in the Department.
Section Officer Ramesh Poudel said lack of sufficient number of equipment to print cards has caused a difficulty to provide cards on time.
It is frequently dealing with those eligible candidates waiting for long (over a year) to get 'smart' cards after paying the charge.
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