Confusion over printing 'Smart Licence'

The department has decided not to print the smart card because the software of the machine is broken and the right to print the license has been passed by the provincial government.

9 lakh smart cards purchased by the federal government are available for printing. There is also a card printing machine bought by the government at the cost of crores. However, since all provinces have not completed the preparation for printing the card, confusion has been created as to how long those who have passed the trial will have to carry the receipt as a license. Currently, more than 1.7 million citizens across the country are waiting for a smart license card with the receipt of passing the driving test. Daily 5 to 6 thousand people are passing the trial from 43 locations in all seven provinces.

Uddhav Prasad Rizal, director general of the transport department, said that the software of the machine stopped working and the decision was taken because the state government has the sole right to print smart cards. He said that the constitution has given the province the sole right to print licenses.

In the last week of July at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Rizal said that it was concluded that the state should print the smart card in the meeting attended by the representatives of the union and the state and stakeholders. He says, "We can't print smart cards anymore except for those who are going abroad or those who are in emergency situations and fill out the form online."

He said that to make broken software and to increase the capacity of the machine, it is necessary to spend millions of rupees and bring technicians from abroad . The department says that since the guarantee date of the license printing machine has expired a year ago, the technician will not be able to make it without spending more budget . Now the machine which is said to be damaged due to the license software not working, was purchased for 10 million rupees in 2020.

"It seems that a new machine has been purchased for printing hi-tech technology smart cards, although there were four small machines before," said officials of the department . The said machine has been supplied by Madras Security Security Press (MSP) through tender.

All the provinces are doing the work of registering the application, taking the trial and taking the revenue amount and giving the pass receipt. Only the work of printing licenses is under the Union Government . An officer of the department said, "The problem is getting complicated because the union government is not trying to give even a single right given by the law to the state on time." "It is wrong to rely on one thing without taking into account that the machinery may break down," said the official. Now 1.7 lakh cards are left to be printed only for those who have received the receipt. But even if the machine runs day and night, the department said that it cannot print more than 4,000 per day. In addition, those who pass the trial from all provinces are added daily. Renewals are also applying for daily cards . According to

department sources, the National Identity Card and Registration Department has also tested the software so that the license can be viewed on its identity card. Even if it is to be implemented, the transport department does not need to print smart cards. Officials claim that this will save tens of rupees of the state. Currently, the price before printing the details on the smart card is US$ 2 . That is, according to the current dollar market price, the price of the card before printing is only about 270 rupees.

Accountant General says - payment of 3 million without repairing the machine

In the 59th annual report of the Auditor General, it is pointed out that the amount of 24 thousand 400 US dollars for the repair during the warranty period of the four machines said to be damaged should be recovered for the payment to the suppliers.  ;

According to the General Accountant, when four smart card printers were said to have broken down in 2020, they have questioned why they paid the amount for the repair during the warranty period until 2022. After the publication of the General Account's report, the government has put pressure on the supplier company to return 30 lakhs for the repair of the old machine. However, he has taken the stance that he will not return the money as he has taken it regularly. According to

department sources, the company says that it is not its fault that the related agency has paid the amount to be taken. The old four machines and both the current ones are supplied by the same company MSP. The warranty period of the new machine has also expired . 25,000 US Dollars should be paid to MCP for repairs during the warranty period of smart card printers .

Similarly, 1 crore should be paid to MSP as per the condition of paying only 20 percent after the warranty expires at the time of purchase. Under both headings, the government has to pay about Rs 1 crore 33 lakh to the MSP . The government is trying to pay the 300 million MSP amount that was taken out by the General Account. For that, the amount to be paid on the title of the new machine is tried to be deducted from the old payment . MSP said that even though they supplied both the machines, they said that the contract is separate and they will not pay the amount as shown by the Accountant General.

MSP has not agreed to repair the smart card printing machine without getting its payment . According to the sources of the department, no one has dared to pay the new one because the old payment has turned out to be invalid. Rizal, director general of the department, said it was not easy to pay. He said, it was difficult to give another payment to the same company when the Accountant General raised the question of old accounts. He has been sending news that the suppliers will not come for the repair without getting the money due to the warranty period to be repaired. According to department sources, how the payment was made under the title of maintenance of the old machine when the new machine was run from 2020, that is the subject of investigation.

Department seems to have introduced smart cards in 2017 based on the logic that chips will be placed in smart cards, fake licenses cannot be made from them and more details of the person can also be viewed . However, the officials of the department say that there is no reasonable reason for canceling the paper license and buying expensive machines and cards and arranging smart cards. Although it is called

smart, officials say that it has not been used as intended. Initially, it seems that there was an agreement for the purchase of four machines to print general licenses in October 2017 for US$ 244,000. However, three years after the purchase of the said machine, the current machine was purchased for 10 crores to print smart cards in 2020. After buying the new machine, it seems that the old four machines are not being used . The warranty period of the old machine seems to be till 24 February 2022 .

This is the preparation of the province

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure has discussed the issue of smart cards with the ministers and secretaries of 7 provinces. However, it is not likely that the state will print smart cards immediately. The Wagmati state government, which has the most trial centers and provides pass receipts, is confused. Balaram Niraula, secretary of Wagmati Province Labor, Employment and Transport Ministry, says that for the time being, they are trying to fix the license software in citizen apps.

For that, Wagmati has decided to buy 500 smart mobiles and give them to the traffic police. It is said that for the time being, the traffic can check the license from the mobile phone of that number. Secretary Niraula informed that there are trial centers at 7 places in Wagmati and almost 8 lakhs have passed the trial receipts. "We have tried to create a system that will last for a long time," he said.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Legal Development of Koshi Province has prepared to provide a temporary card within a week as there is no possibility of printing a smart card immediately. According to Ministry Information Officer Subhas Karki, 11 printers and 185 cards have been purchased for temporary cards. According to him, a budget of 100 million has been allocated for the current year for printing licenses. Karki said that suggestions have been requested from the National Identity Card and Registration Department and the Transport Management Department for the tender for the purchase of cards and machines.