Smart card shortage at RTO’s causes delays in driving licences and RC

Smart card shortage at RTO’s causes delays in driving licences and RC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 20, 2025: A shortage of smart cards for vehicle registration certificates (RC) and driving licences is causing widespread delays at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state. This has created significant inconvenience for vehicle owners, new licence holders, and those seeking licence renewals.

The issue stems from the expiry of the contract with the company responsible for supplying these smart cards. While temporary extensions were granted for one or two months after the long-term agreement ended, the extensions have since lapsed, resulting in the current impasse.

RTO officials are also struggling to manage the situation, as the absence of smart cards has disrupted the timely delivery of printed documents.

Vishwanath Ajila, RTO officer in Puttur, explained that applicants who pass the driving licence test can access digital versions of their documents through DigiLocker, which are legally valid. However, the shortage of smart cards has persisted for over a month, leaving many applicants who applied as early as late October still awaiting their printed licences.

The problem is particularly acute for rural residents, many of whom are unfamiliar with DigiLocker and rely heavily on physical copies of their documents. As a result, they frequently turn to RTO offices or agents for help.

In 2022, paper RCs were introduced as a stopgap measure, but their fragility made them impractical for long-term use. Smart cards were expected to provide a durable solution, but the current scarcity has once again disrupted the system.