The digital license, which replaces the old manual driving license, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar amid a program held at the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) on Monday.According to DoTM, the smart driving license project will first be implemented in Bagmati Zone by distributing 160,000 smart driving licenses. DoTM plans to implement the project nationwide gradually, replacing all manual driving licenses smart driving licenses within next three to five years.
DoTM also plans to distribute electronic vehicle ownership card from the next fiscal year.
The smart driving license project is a part of Information and Communication Technology Development Project that the government is implementing with grant assistance of US$ 25 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to DoTM officials, the polycarbonate Smart Card Driving License is durable and comes embedded with various security features. The department will also provide Smart Card Reader to Traffic Police and train traffic police personnel to use the device.
Addressing the program, Gachhadar said the smart driving license and introduction of digital working procedure at DoTM would stop anomalies in Nepali transportation sector. Encouraging DoTM to replace manual license and vehicle ownership certificates with smart cards, he said: "This initiative needs support from all concerned stakeholders."
On the occasion MoPIT Secretary Gajendra Kumar Thakur said the introduction of smart driving license was a huge leap in Nepal's transportation sector as many developed countries are yet to adopt the system. Stating that the government will soon announce tender to procure another 400,000 smart driving license, he said DoTM will shift to ICT-based system within coming five years.
He also said DoTM will need around 4 million smart cards to replace all driving licenses and vehicle ownership certificates.
On the occasion, Kenichi Yokoyama, ADB's country director to Nepal, said that the new initiative is a crucial step toward a smart governance of the sector. "This centralized system of biometric data does not only save time and increase efficiency in processing procedures for Nepali citizens, but also contributes in supporting the government to provide a secure system, efficient data management to minimize fraudulent practices and systematize revenue collection," added Yokoyama.
Meanwhile, DOTM has also announced to adopt online system for vehicle registration and collection of revenue through different banks.
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