Smart cards shortage plagues RTA offices

Hyderabad: The next time you apply for a driving licence or an RC, get prepared to wait for months to get the card, for the 11 RTA offices in the Greater Hyderabad area have no stock of the smart cards. Sources in the know of things say that the transport department has not paid the dues to the contractor leading to the situation.

According to reliable sources, the department has paid half the amount and crores of rupees are yet to be released. Senior officials at the RTAs blame the contractor for not supplying the smart cards. The contractor in turn blames the government for not releasing funds on time.

The issue of non-payment of dues has been going on for almost one-and-a-half years. Now, the department is planning to call for a new tender. M Dayanand, general secretary, Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union, says, "On one hand, the department insists on licence and RC, and on the other hand, due to its goof-up, people have to wait for months to get the cards. There is a need to print at least 300 cards a day, which is not happening."

The smart cards are used in new driving licences, RC books, duplicate licences, renewal cards etc. Sources in the transport department said that the RTAs in the state print at least 200 to 400 cards per day but there has been huge pendency in the issuing of cards because of the shortage for the last one month.

As per the citizen's charter, the transport department should deliver the card within a day. If an applicant passes a driver's test at the testing track, the RTA authorities should ensure that the card is delivered by 1 pm on the next working day but it is not happening, sources said.