Driving Licence Renewal Resumes After Two-Month Suspension

Kathmandu, Oct 27:
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has resumed driving licence renewal and related services nearly two months after an arson attack forced a complete shutdown.

According to DoTM Director Keshav Khatiwada, 21 out of 42 transport management offices across the country have already restarted operations, while five more are in the process of reopening. “We have begun with partial services and will gradually expand to full operations,” Khatiwada said.

Several offices including those in Pokhara, Itahari, Lahan, Butwal, Dhangadhi, Dang, and Chitwan remain closed due to severe damage from the fire.

The department has not yet resumed new driving licence applications. Before the disruption, an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people applied daily, with 4,000 to 5,000 successfully passing their trial tests. “New applications will open only after all offices resume operations,” Khatiwada explained, adding that applications will be reopened province-wise with specific timelines.

The arson had also destroyed the department’s data centre, disrupting digital services and access to digital licences through the Nagarik App. Khatiwada confirmed that app services are being restored and will be functional again from Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the department’s main office in Minbhawan, heavily damaged by the fire, is undergoing repair and maintenance. Officials are currently operating from temporary setups in the waiting area.

To address the backlog of 2.5 million pending licences, the department has partnered with the Security Printing Centre, aiming to print 1.2 million cards within six months. Urgent licences for individuals leaving for foreign employment will be printed and issued directly by the centre.

The fire had also destroyed licence printing machines, halting in-house printing. Until replacements are procured, all printing tasks will be handled externally.

Preliminary estimates show that out of 22,000 printed licences ready for distribution during the incident, around 18,000 were destroyed, while only 3,000 were salvaged.

“The system is gradually being restored, and we are committed to resuming full services soon,” Khatiwada said.