Feb 02, Kathmandu- The number of smart driving licenses remaining to be printed at the Department of Transport Management has reached nearly 2.8 million. The department under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been printing smart licenses.

The department currently has only one printing machine to print licenses. The department has stated that this machine can print about four thousand licenses daily.

The department is also looking to purchase another machine as the number of new licenses to be printed daily is in the thousands, which would delay printing 2.8 million licenses with a single machine. Although there is provision in the budget, the process of purchasing a new machine has not yet progressed.

On the other hand, since the provincial governments have the constitutional authority, they are preparing to print the licenses. Although the provincial government has started printing, the department is preparing to print the remaining licenses itself.

Koshi Province is currently printing licenses with QR codes. Bagmati Province has started printing along with digital ones. Similarly, Gandaki Province has also prepared to print.

"The provincial governments have started printing the licenses. However, the department is considering whether to print the old 2.8 million and whether to buy a new machine," said Ganeshman Singh Rai, the department's information officer. He said that the tender process to buy the machine has not yet progressed.

The government has now also recognized the licenses displayed on the Nagarik app. Along with the license, fines for traffic violations can also be paid from the Nagarik app.

The department has also been printing essential cards daily.