Call for Resumption of Driving Licence Issuance in Punjab by National Road Safety Council Member
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Synopsis
Kamal Soi, a member of the National Road Safety Council, voiced concerns over the suspension of driving licence and vehicle registration certificate issuance in Punjab, urging immediate action to resolve the public inconvenience until a new vendor is appointed.
Key Takeaways
- Kamal Soi highlights public distress in Punjab.
- Suspension of DL and RC issuance causing significant issues.
- Previous vendor exited due to unviable rates.
- Transport Department's affidavit promises timely vendor transition.
- Proposes using NICSI for interim solutions.
Chandigarh, Feb 7 (NationPress) International road safety expert Kamal Soi, a member of the National Road Safety Council, raised alarms on Friday regarding the challenges faced by residents of Punjab due to the halt in issuing driving licences (DLs) and vehicle registration certificates (RCs).
The public is expressing significant discontent due to the inaction from the state government, as numerous applications for DL and RC issuance remain unresolved.
“As far as I know, the previous vendor, M/s Smart Chip Private Ltd, withdrew from the project in November 2024 after receiving the green light from the high court, as the previous rates established in 2019 had become impractical,” Soi informed the media.
“From my understanding, the Transport Department submitted an affidavit to the High Court on November 20, 2024, stating that it would finalize the project handover from the former vendor to a new one within a month. Yet, no progress has been made, leading to increased public frustration,” he remarked.
Given the current circumstances regarding the non-issuance of DLs and RCs in the state, along with the Transport Department's approach, it seems unlikely that they will manage to release a tender for these services anytime soon.
Soi suggested that to alleviate public distress, until a new vendor is appointed through a tender process for DL and RC issuance, the process should be handled by National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI), a fully government-owned entity under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which has a reputable track record in the transportation field for over 25 years.
