Embossed number essential in vehicles to materialize digital Nepal, argues Transport Minister

Kathmandu: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal has pitched for installing embossed number plates on the vehicles to help materialize digital Nepal.

Responding to the issues raised in the zero and special hour in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), he empathized the need for devising embossed number plates as the contract to that end was already signed.

“It seems that the contract signing was done three times earlier for the installation of embossed number plates on vehicles. It is not the incumbent government who signed the contracts. Amount Rs 3 billion has to be disbursed to the contractor without any work if not installed”.

The incumbent government has seen the necessity of devising embossed number plates when there is obligation to disburse money without any product in hand. He clarified that there would not be an issue of English language in the embossed number plates. Informing that the Ministry has advanced the process, he said so far 635, 545 pieces have been already printed for individual, private or government vehicles and 87, 989 embossed number plates have been installed.

The Minister stated, “The Government of Nepal has embraced the concept of Digital Nepal and has made strides in various areas such as passport issuance, national identification card, driving license, and land registration. Accordingly, it is essential to transition the transportation sector to digital as well. After the installation of embossed number plates on vehicles, there will be clear details of vehicles across the country”.

He noted that having accurate information regarding vehicle permits will help prevent theft of vehicle and tax evasion, and that guidelines for the installation of embossed number plates on vehicles have also been issued. Minister Dahal justified the need for identification numbers on vehicles to be in English to facilitate cross-border movement.