DoTM is taking this step to reduce vehicle-related crimes, said Sharad Chandra Poudel, director general. "The new system will be difficult to duplicate. We are studying security measures for the number plate system," he said. The study commissioned by the DoTM has suggested three number plates -- in front, at the rear and on the body -- for all vehicles.
The front and rear number plates should be kept fixed as usual while the third number plate should be changed every year. "Vehicle owners will get the third number plate after paying road and vehicle tax at the end of each fiscal year," Poudel said. The third number plate will be a sticker and a proof of revenue payment, he added.
According to DoTM, more than half of the private vehicles -- two wheelers and four wheelers -- plying on the roads are not paying road and ownership taxes.
Around 8,97,629 vehicles have registered in Nepal till May 14 this year. "It is more than Rs 2 billion that we still have to collect from vehicles till the fiscal year 2008-09," said Poudel.
DoTM is also mulling reducing the vehicle number plate categories to two. "We are thinking of dividing number plates into heavy and light categories," said Poudel, "Frankly, we don't need more than two categories." Currently, eight categories of number plates are being used for ministers, civil servant, corporations, public transport, private-owned, diplomatic mission and others.
The department is also considering to engraving the national flag along with vehicle number on number plates. As per the DoTM plan, the new number plate system will be enforced from the next Nepali New Year -- mid-April 2010.
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