KATHMANDU, Oct 24: The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) is grappling with a mounting backlog of unprinted driver's licenses, which has surpassed 1.2 million, as the printing process remains halted.
The delay is attributed to the exhaustion of electronic chip-equipped cards in mid-June, leading to the suspension of driver's license printing. While new applicants complete the examination process daily, the government is currently producing cards solely for individuals seeking foreign employment and pursuing studies abroad due to the limited availability of cards. Consequently, numerous drivers awaiting licenses via the regular procedures have faced delays.
DoTM Spokesperson Ishwori Datta Paneru explained that an agreement with Germany's Muehlbauer Company for the supply of 1.2 million cards was inked three months ago. However, the card personalization process by India's Madras Security Printers, the firm managing the license system, caused a delay in the card's compatibility for the printing system.
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Approximately 25 days ago, the German company was given an 85-day timeline to provide the cards after completing all necessary procedures.
Presently, across the country, 3,000 to 5,000 individuals pass the license examination and complete renewal processes daily. Unfortunately, the government has suspended the operation of the existing printing machine.
To address the delay, the DoTM has been issuing temporary licenses with QR codes, valid for one year. However, the government still has not been able to print the licenses even after the one-year period has expired, causing significant inconvenience for countless motorists.
Paneru stated, "We have requested the company with whom we have an agreement to provide at least 200,000 cards in one shipment. It will take approximately one month for the cards to arrive and for regular printing to resume."
Considering that the number of unprinted cards exceeds the forthcoming supply, the DoTM is preparing to secure the card supply in the next phase.
