Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SHP)

Bengaluru, Nov 12: Over 50,000 DL applications are pending across 65 Regional Transport Offices in the state owing to shortage of smart cards. It is the third time in a year that DL applications have been delayed.

Earlier it was assumed that the delay would be rectified in a few days, but, since last 15 days, the issue has not been resolved. The RTO officials have addressed their grievance to the central office and stated the need for clearing applications at the earliest.

Back in 2009, Rosmarta Technologies Ltd was assigned with the task to supply smart cards. The company has been supplying about 2 lac smart cards per month. However, for the past two years, the delay in the supply has disrupted the process.

Additional Commissioner for Transport (Environment and e-Governance) Shivaraj B Patil admitted that there was a shortage and said applicants were invoking the Sakala rules, which mandates the issuance of the DL or RC in 30 days after accepting the application.

“Officials are expressing helplessness. We believe there are more than 50,000 pending applications, most of them in offices around Bengaluru. The company was notified about the delay. We have received information today that 80,000 DL cards and 60,000 RC cards will be dispatched immediately,” Patil said.

Patil has advised RTO officers to keep contingent stock of smart cards to handle a situation such as this.

“There has been a 25% to 30% rise in demand since the Union government notified higher penalty for Motor Vehicle rule violations. The company supplying smart cards is unable to meet the rise in demand, which is the main reason for the shortage. I have personally heard from people who had to change their plans due to the delay," he added.

The Transport department is now looking into the agreement it signed with Rosmarta to understand what actions can be taken concerning the delay.