Koshi begins issuing license immediately after driving test

ITAHARI: Koshi Province Government has begun issuing driving licenses on the same day applicants pass their driving test.

The provincial government began issuing temporary licenses on Wednesday, ending a wait of up to three years for smart driving licenses.

Chief Minister Hikmat Karki and Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Lilaballav Adhikari officially inaugurated the service by distributing driving licenses to applicants at the Transport Management Office, Itahari, on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Karki said that the provincial government was expediting the driving license project. “Like the passport system, we are introducing different fees based on urgency. We need everyone’s cooperation to make this successful,” he added.

Similarly, Minister Adhikari praised the technical support provided by the Department of Transport Management at the federal level for the distribution of temporary licenses. “Preparations to print smart licenses are underway,” he added.

On August 16, a joint meeting of transport ministers from all seven provinces decided to print driving licenses at the provincial level. They also agreed to issue temporary cards with QR codes until the permanent card printing system is established.

Koshi Province has seven Transport Management Service Offices, all of which have begun issuing temporary licenses with one-year validity. The provincial government has said that it will start printing smart licenses within a year.

Koshi Province Government receives about 18,000 applications for driving licenses every month.