Electronic driving license on cards

The government has initiated a process for implementing electronic driving license and Embossed Number Plate system in an effort to systematize recordkeeping and monitoring of vehicles across the country.

A government panel formed to execute the scientific system on Sunday invited tender from interested parties to undertake supply and delivery of vehicle number plate monitoring card -- including software, IT equipment and accessories -- and personalization, smart card and embossed number plate. The dateline for bidding has been set for June 23. The government has authorized the panel to select the qualified firm competing in the bidding process.

Anil Gurung, director of Department of Transport Management (DoTM), said necessary technical networking and system will be installed by the DoTM to execute the new system once the supply of Vehicle Number Plate Monitoring Card, Smart Card and Embossed Number Plate begins. “The new system will be implemented from the next fiscal year,” Gurung told Republica. on Monday.

The government has announced in the budget for the current fiscal year that the process of maintaining electronic database of driving license would be completed within this fiscal year and new vehicle registration, route permit and new driving license would be distributed and renewed electronically from November 16, 2010.

Gurung said the new system is aimed at ending duplication of licenses and other vehicle related documents as well as number plates, upgrading distribution of number plate as per international trend and making collection of tax from transportation sector effective.

The embossed number plate includes name of vehicle owners, model of vehicles, chassis number and tax payment status, among others. It also maintains uniformity in number plates and keeps exact record of vehicles registered with the government.

The electronic smart card will replace the existing driving licenses. The smart card will have personal details of license-holder and date of issue and expiry, among others. Likewise, the vehicle monitoring card will help officials about the technical and other details of the vehicles.

“Linkage of all cards will be established with all 13 Transport Management Offices across the country through a computerized system,” Gurung added.

In the absence of scientific recordkeeping and numbering system, officials are not in a position to tell the exact number of vehicles plying within the country. As per the recent record, more than 970,000 vehicles have been registered across the country.