17 August 2024, Kathmandu
In a significant move towards modernizing Nepal’s transportation system, all seven provinces have agreed to adopt the national identity card as an alternative to the traditional driver’s license.
National Identity Card as Alternative to Driver’s License
This decision marks a crucial step in integrating national identity verification with traffic management, streamlining processes, and enhancing security.
On Friday, a crucial discussion was held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, bringing together transport ministers and secretaries from all provinces. The meeting focused on the implementation of the national ID card as a substitute for the driver’s license. The discussion saw active participation from local representatives, signalling broad support for the initiative.
The government has already laid the groundwork for making the national identity card mandatory in place of the driver’s license. Under the new system, traffic police will utilize specialized devices to verify driver’s licenses through their national ID card or number. The Traffic Management Department has announced that this new rule will be enforced as soon as the necessary devices are available to the traffic police.
Uddhav Prasad Rizal, Director General of the Traffic Management Department, confirmed that the rule would be implemented once all technical and procedural requirements are met. He noted that provincial governments have expressed a positive response to purchasing the required devices, and provincial ministers and secretaries have shown strong interest in supporting this initiative.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday between the National Identity Card and Registration Department and the Transport Management Department, formalizing the collaboration needed to implement this rule. The provinces will also manage daily service delivery tasks, such as correcting and updating driver’s license details, with technical support from the central department.
Additionally, it has been decided to issue driver’s license receipts on hard paper, complete with QR codes and photos, to improve the efficiency of service delivery. The provinces will also implement a queue management system within three months to better handle the crowd for written tests, practical tests, and license collection.
Ministers from all seven provinces attended the meeting, reflecting a unified approach towards enhancing transport management and service delivery across Nepal. This initiative represents a significant step towards a more integrated and efficient transportation system in the country.
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National Identity Card as Alternative to Driver’s License