KATHMANDU, April 13: Madras Security Printers, which has been 'blackmailing' with demand for $40,000 to print 120,000 smart licenses, has finally backtracked from its decision to demand the amount.
The company has agreed to print the smart licenses after the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) warned that it would be blacklisted.
Initially, Madras Security Printers refused to proceed with the printing of personalized smart cards until the DoTM paid $40,000.
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Following this standoff, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Raghubir Mahaseth instructed the Director General of the DoTM, Uddhav Prasad Rijal, to ensure that the printing proceeded without further delay. Minister Mahaseth expressed dismay that despite having 120,000 cards available, the licenses were not being printed.
After that, the DoTM issued a warning to Madras Security Printers, threatening to blacklist the company. Being blacklisted would mean the company could not bid for government contracts for a specific period. Faced with this consequence, Madras Security Printers finally agreed to print 120,000 smart cards.
Uddhav Prasad Rijal, the Director General of the DoTM, confirmed that the card printing process has been completed. "Madras Security has personalized 120,000 new cards for printing," he stated.
Madras Security Printers is a licensed printing company. The DoTM signed an agreement with this company in October, 2013. Two years later, the company developed the software and started printing.
The distribution of smart licenses began on November 30, 2015. At that time, Madras Security Printers was responsible for the software design, manufacturing, hardware connection, printing, and supplying smart cards. However, the situation changed about 15 months ago when a German company Muhlbauer ID Services GmbH secured a contract worth Rs 190 million to provide 120,000 smart cards. As a result, Madras Security Printers refused to personalize the cards.
