Sajjan Acharya of Balkot, Bhaktapur, applied for a four-wheeled vehicle driver's license on November 10.

The office informed him about the date and time of the written test only when he collected his admission letter. Acharya, who was preparing to go to Finland for studies, wanted to get a four-wheeler license. But after failing the written test, he will not be able to start the process again for three months.

This provision is mentioned in Section 49 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049. 'I had to get a license to prepare for going abroad. I failed, but if the time for taking the written test had not been set for a long time, I would have passed. Now I have to wait for three months,' he said.

He says that going abroad and starting the license process is time-consuming and expensive. He is not the only one, most of those who fail the written test are facing this problem.

If a person who has failed the written test says he will study and pass within a week, arrangements should be made to allow him to take the test. -Danda Bahadur Basnet Service recipients who are getting two- and four-wheeler licenses for the first time have been facing the same problem. Especially for those who are going abroad with a four-wheeler license, the written test has created additional difficulties. Currently, around 5,000 people are applying for new licenses every day across the country. But those who fail the written test have been complaining that the three-month provision is not practical.

Danda Bahadur Basnet, Chief of the Transport Management Office, Bhaktapur, says that the act itself needs to be improved. 'The system is under the department, it is also necessary to change the system. We have been raising these issues during discussions in the department and ministry,' he said. According to him, an average of 70 percent pass in the written test. Those who have failed the written test for a new license are forced to wait another three months.

'If a person who has failed the written test says he will study and pass within a week, arrangements should be made to allow him to take the test,' he said. 'For this, an amendment to the act is necessary from the Transport Management Department.' He said that the three-month period has had the greatest impact on those going abroad for study and employment.

People with motorcycle or scooter licenses do not have to take the written test for a four-wheeler license, but can directly take the practical (trial) test. Those who go abroad often want a car license, so Basnet said that most complaints about the written test come from this category.

If you do not pass the practical test (trial) three times, you have to start the process again from the beginning. If you fail the trial for the first time, you can take the trial twice within 18 months. If you fail all three times, you have to fill out a form again and pass the written test. If you have a motorcycle/scooter license, you do not have to take the written test for a four-wheeler and you can directly take the trial.

Basnet says that the act that was made when there were few offices earlier is not practical now. 'This act was probably right at that time. Now, many offices have opened in Bagmati Province. Even though new offices have been opened, there are few service recipients. Earlier, three months were set aside because there were many service recipients, but now, since there are few, it is necessary to make arrangements to give the written test within a week if you fail,' he said.

Although the transport offices are currently under the province, the licensing act and laws are under the union. The transport ministry of the province concerned says that this is causing problems.

Bimal Prasad Bhattarai, information officer at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Transport under Bagmati Province, said that many complaints have been received about the long time given to retake the written exam after failing. 'In all provinces, the work is done according to the act of the Department of Transport Management. The department has a system for submitting applications, and the form cannot be filled until 90 days have passed after failing. Therefore, changes to the software are necessary by amending the act,' he said.

Ganesh Rai, information officer at the Department of Transport Management, says that the work related to licenses is being done according to the act. 'There is a problem with the act, there are many complaints that it is not practical,' he said, 'Employees cannot change it. The government should take the amendment work to parliament.'