KATHMANDU: The government has announced plans to distribute all pending driving licenses within mid-July (Ashad), addressing a backlog that has left applicants waiting for up to four years.
Thousands of service seekers who applied since May 2022 have yet to receive their licenses and are currently using payment slips as temporary proof. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has approved a reform program to end delays and ensure time-bound distribution.
Minister Dr. Bikram Timsina stated that around 2.9 million pending licenses will be printed and handed over to the Department of Transport Management within the deadline. He also said new applicants will receive their licenses within 24 hours of data submission.
According to the department, a contract worth Rs 270 million has already been awarded to print 1.2 million licenses, with a deadline set for April 25. Around 300,000 licenses have already been printed and are being dispatched for distribution.
The remaining 1.7 million licenses were delayed due to budget constraints. Officials said additional budget arrangements are now being made, and a new agreement for printing will be finalized soon.
Licenses are being printed at the Security Printing Center using QR-enabled smart cards, with a daily capacity of up to 50,000 units. At full capacity, the remaining backlog can be cleared within 1.5 to 2 months.
The government is also preparing to introduce an application system through the Nagarik App within 45 days to simplify and digitize the process.
Currently, 42 transport offices across Nepal provide license services, with around 5,000 to 6,000 applications received daily.
