New crunch, licences vehicle papers stuck

Hyderabad: Shortage of polyvinyl chloride cards and ink-ribbons of printers at the transport department has hit the issue of driving licences and vehicle registration cards. Nearly 1.5 lakh motorists who appeared for driving tests and applied for vehicle registration have been waiting for their cards for a month. Transport officials from all districts except the GHMC limits have halted issue of the cards since November 4 and are waiting for fresh stock to clear applications.

Officials from the five zones of Hyderabad city, Ranga Reddy and Medchal districts have managed with available stock. While the transport department procures ink ribbons from Singapore through a contractor, the PVC cards are supplied by a contractor from Surat. Tenders for both the items should be done through the Telangana State Technology Services. As the contract for the card supply expired last month, the transport department informed the TSTS in advance for making necessary arrangements or calling new tenders. Although, the TSTS completed the tender process, a delay in finalising contractors resulted in the shortage of PVC cards.

A TSTS officer said a letter had been written to the government to extend the existing contract to overcome the crisis and the stock for a month has arrived. An official from Mahbubnagar district RTA said they had not issued driving licences and vehicle registration cards for a month. “Two days back, we got sufficient cards. But, now we are facing a shortage of ink-ribbons to generate the cards,” he said.

Ranga Reddy transport officer M.Praveen Rao said that the problem would be rectified in one or two days. “We have received cards and all the applications for licences and registration certificates will be cleared,” he said. Officials from RTA’s information technology wing said that they were making alternative arrangements to overcome the shortage.

Have card, no ink to print:

The delay at the Telangana State Techno-logy Services resulted in the logjam in issuing driving licences and vehicle registration cards. Officials from transport department said they had approached the TSTS in advance for urgent tenders but the TSTS had delayed the process.

An official from the RTA’s IT wing said the contract for the cards is revised every year. “The TSTS identifies a contractor every year through tender notices. It did not get permission from the government on finalising the tenders,” the official said. He said the previous contractor was ready to supply stock for one month. “But many district officials are facing a shortage of ink ribbons. Without this, driving licences or registration certificates cannot be printed,” he said.