Starting next fiscal year, 2025/26, all provincial governments will take over driving license printing, according to the Department of Transport Management (DoTM).
The DoTM announced on Tuesday, March 4, that it will complete printing the backlog of pending licenses between mid-April and mid-July, paving the way for province-level license issuance across Nepal.
The decision was made during a meeting, including transport ministers and secretaries from all seven provinces, held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The meeting also finalized a standardized license format to maintain nationwide uniformity.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, who chaired the meeting, stated that the government will introduce a federal policy to regulate ride-hailing services in coordination with the provinces. While the federal government will set the policy framework, implementation will be handled by the respective provincial governments.
Additionally, the meeting also resolved to introduce an electronic payment system in the transport sector by mid-April. The system will first be applied to electronic driving licenses (EDL) before being gradually expanded to other transport-related payments.
Minister Dahal emphasized that these measures will enhance the federalization of Nepal’s transport sector, improve public service delivery, and boost revenue collection.
Ministry Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma assured that provinces will receive necessary support for the implementation of these decisions. Meanwhile, DoTM Director General Rajiv Pokharel reaffirmed continued technical assistance for license printing, distribution, embossed number plates, digitalization of blue books, and electronic payment systems.
