Himalayan News Service

Dharan, February 11

Khem Raj Koirala, chief of Zonal Transportation Management Office (ZTMO) which has the responsibility of distributing driving licences, said that the licence distribution process would be made transparent.

He told The Himalayan Times that he is unable to comment on the past practices of license distribution, but from now on, the process would change. The police administration has been notorious for bribery during licence distribution.

"We would work transparently and there would not be any administrative problem," Koirala said. He added, "We have been getting ample help from police too."

The Zonal Transportation Management Office took over the licence distribution responsibility from January 15, but lack of proper infrastructure delayed the work by 15 days.

Moreover, cards and holograms also did not reach the office and the office started to distribute forms only from February 9. Chief Koirala informed that holograms are still unavailable. Hira Udas, president of Eastern Motor Syndicate, said that operation of the office would be more important than the talk of transparency in licence distribution. He added that the handing over of responsibility from police department to Zonal Transportation Management Office is a positive step but it is a huge challenge. He said that the office would also work towards curbing traffic accidents.

The Zonal Transportation Management Office has also published a time schedule for licence distribution process.

According to the schedule, trial examination of motorcycles, cars, jeeps, vans and land rovers would be carried out in the first, second and the fourth weeks of the month while the third week has been scheduled for bigger vehicles.

Two different committees have been formed for written and practical examinations so that the licence distribution becomes impartial, chief Koirala informed.

Chief Koirala also claimed that different committees decision on the licence distribution would surely help the work become unbiased.