Delays in DL and RC smart card issuance resolved after system upgrade, says Transport Department

In Karnataka, approximately 5,000 people register vehicles, and 4,000 take driving tests daily. The Transport Department strives to issue Smart Cards to these individuals within 10 days

Many people have faced delays in receiving their driving licences (DL) and registration certificates (RC) in Smart Card format from the Transport Department. The department has attributed the delays to the upgrade of the Smart Card printing version from 1.0 to 2.0, which has impacted the issuance process across the State.

Mahesh Kulkarni, a resident of Kengeri, said that despite completing his driving test, he had to wait over two months to receive his driving licence (DL). “I finally received the Smart Card DL after two months and 15 days, but no explanation was provided by the authorities for the delay,” he said.

Another resident, Basavaraj K. from Seshadripuram, said that although he purchased a brand-new car from the showroom, he had to wait a month to receive his RC book, which is typically delivered within a few days. “I was constantly following up with the car dealer and the RTO, but the RC book was delayed. Without the RC book, how can I drive the car? If the police catch us, they will fine us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Transport Department officials clarified that the issue had been resolved. They explained that the delay was caused by the Smart Card version upgrade managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). After the system was upgraded from Version 1.0 to 2.0, the problem was resolved, an official told The Hindu.

In Karnataka, approximately 5,000 people register vehicles, and 4,000 take driving tests every day. The Transport Department strives to issue Smart Cards within 10 days.

Issued raised in Assembly session

Recently, Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal raised concerns in the ongoing Assembly session regarding delays in issuing DL and RC Smart Cards, as well as server-related errors disrupting Transport Department services.

Responding to the question, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated that following directions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), DLs and RC Smart Cards are being issued seamlessly through Aadhaar-based verification and online services. He added that Karnataka currently offers 31 transport-related services through both e-KYC and non-e-KYC modes. “There are rare instances of server downtime, and whenever such issues occur, we immediately coordinate with NIC to resolve them promptly,” he added.

Published - December 17, 2024 08:25 pm IST