16th September 2025, Kathmandu
The digital convenience that hundreds of thousands of Nepali drivers had come to rely on has abruptly ended.
Nagarik App Driving License
In the aftermath of the recent GenZ protests on September 8 and 9, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) suffered significant damage, leading to the temporary removal of the driving license feature from the Nagarik App.
This incident, which saw vandalism and a fire at the DoTM’s central office in Minbhawan, Kathmandu, has brought to light the fragility of Nepal’s digital infrastructure and created immediate challenges for a vast number of service seekers.
The license feature was a cornerstone of the government’s push for a “Digital Nepal,” allowing drivers to view their license details, pay fines online, and avoid the hassle of carrying a physical copy.
For many, like Sunil Bik, a ride-sharing driver in the Valley, the app was an essential tool. “Sometimes when I was fined, it was easy to pay online through the Nagarik App and attend classes,” he shared.
Now, with the system down, he and other drivers will have to revert to traditional, time-consuming methods of paying fines and attending traffic classes in person. This sudden regression from a digital-first approach to a paper-based system has caused widespread frustration and uncertainty.
While no official statement has been released, it is widely understood that the damage to the DoTM’s central server is the reason behind the app feature’s disappearance.
The department’s spokesperson, Ganeshman Singh Rai, confirmed that the EDLVRS (Electronic Driving License and Vehicle Registration System), which integrated with the Nagarik App, is currently non-functional.
The fire at the Minbhawan office was catastrophic, destroying the central server, the data management system, and all digital records of driving licenses and vehicle registrations. Even the machinery used for producing embossed number plates was lost in the blaze.
The implications of this server failure are far-reaching. The immediate concern is for the hundreds of thousands of individuals whose digital records have been wiped out.
While traffic police have temporarily relaxed enforcement by accepting receipts as proof of a license, the long-term impact on service delivery will be severe.
The process of applying for or renewing licenses is expected to become extremely complicated. As Rai noted, those who need to travel abroad for work or other purposes will face immediate problems, as their digital records are no longer verifiable.
This incident has also created a major inconvenience for drivers who had grown accustomed to the digital-first approach. Many had stopped carrying their physical licenses, relying solely on the Nagarik App.
Transport expert Ashish Jagurel highlighted this issue, stating that many drivers may have lost or damaged their hard copies, leaving them in a difficult position.
“Now drivers will be forced to carry hard copies, which brings back old hassles,” he said. “If they don’t have one, traffic police may fine them, adding unnecessary burden and financial strain.”
This setback not only disrupts daily life but also undermines the government’s digital initiatives, potentially leading to public frustration.
The Department of Transport Management is currently in the process of assessing the full extent of the damage and is working on a plan to rebuild its systems.
However, officials have warned that restoring all services and data to their previous state will be a lengthy and complex process. This event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust data backup and disaster recovery systems, particularly for critical government services.
As Nepal continues its journey toward a Digital Nepal, this incident is a crucial, if painful, lesson in the need for resilience in a connected world.
For more: Nagarik App Driving License