DoTM server repair update
9th October 2025, Kathmandu
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) is in a race against time.
DoTM server repair update
Officials work tirelessly to restore the electronic license system after a month-long suspension. All driver’s license applications and trials abruptly halted following severe damage to the central office’s ICT infrastructure.
This was a result of vandalism, looting, and arson during the recent Gen Z protests. A successful DoTM server repair update is now the central focus for resuming critical public services.
DoTM Director and Head of the IT Division, Keshav Khatiwada, confirmed restoration work is ongoing. They are pushing to reopen new license applications before the major Tihar festival.
This reopening depends heavily on the successful repair of the damaged main server and the procurement of necessary replacement equipment.
If the pre-Tihar deadline isn’t met, services will definitely resume immediately after the festival concludes.
The Scale of ICT Infrastructure Damage
The protests caused catastrophic damage to the DoTM’s physical and digital assets, effectively paralyzing service delivery nationwide.
The central DoTM server suffered extensive damage. Electronic devices, printers, and computers in the office were destroyed or lost.
This equipment is essential for operating the entire national licensing system. The DoTM stated a full server room construction is underway simultaneously with the repair work.
This rapid rebuild shows the department’s urgency to reactivate digital services. They must ensure data flow to all 42 provincial transport management offices.
The physical losses were also significant. Reports confirm that over 20,000 already printed licenses, more than 100,000 smart cards, and over 600,000 embossed number plates were all destroyed in the fire.
One of the two office buildings is now completely unusable. This loss further compounds the already existing backlog of nearly 3 million pending licenses (for renewal and passed trials).
ICT Recovery: The Road to Resumption
The immediate task is to finalize the DoTM server repair update and restore the network. This involves intense coordination for both technical and procurement needs.
Server Repair Near Completion: The IT Division Head noted the server repair is “almost complete.” The critical hurdle now is gathering the remaining equipment.
Equipment Sourcing: The department is actively acquiring computers, printers, hard drives, and office furniture.
They requested some items from the Security Printing Center and other agencies. Other items have been purchased directly to speed up the process.
The provincial offices can only conduct written and trial exams once the DoTM’s central online system is fully restored and online. This dependence highlights the single point of failure in the centralized e-governance framework.
Despite the physical destruction of the server, Khatiwada clarified that the core license data remains safe. This is due to existing backup systems.
Furthermore, over 100,000 pre-printed smart cards were fortunately recovered intact. This data resilience provides a foundation for resuming operations without losing citizen records.
The Nationwide Impact and Centralized Dependency
The suspension has created a massive backlog, affecting thousands of citizens daily who rely on these services. The DoTM typically handles between 6,000 to 7,000 new and renewal license applications every day across the country.
The month-long halt means tens of thousands of citizens face delays. This pause directly impacts various sectors that require legally licensed drivers.
Bimal Prasad Bhattarai, Information Officer at the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Transport of Bagmati Province, stressed the provincial offices’ hands are tied.
No license-related services can operate until the central DoTM server is online. The entire license operation, including new applications, renewals, written tests, and trial exams, runs through this single central system.
This centralized architecture means a disruption in Kathmandu halts services for all 42 offices nationwide.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for ICT Resilience
The damage inflicted upon the DoTM office serves as a stark warning about the vulnerability of Nepal’s critical ICT infrastructure.
The urgent DoTM server repair update demonstrates the government’s priority to bring public services back online quickly.
While the push to resume services before or immediately after Tihar is commendable, the incident mandates a national review of digital disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
Future IT planning must prioritize decentralized systems and cloud-based backups to ensure that no single incident can completely paralyze essential services again. The country must build digital resilience into its public service framework.
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