KATHMANDU, Aug 6: The government has decided to make embossed number plates mandatory for all registered vehicles starting September 17. The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Debendra Dahal and attended by ministers and secretaries from all provinces.
According to the decision, vehicle registration, ownership transfer and renewal carried out by transport offices under all provincial governments must include the installation of embossed number plates from September 17 onward. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport will coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs to mobilize traffic police and provide technical support to enforce the rule.
Although the government had initially introduced embossed number plates in 2021 with plans to make them mandatory, implementation had faced significant pushback. In response to public resistance and confusion, the Department of Transport Management had temporarily scaled back the directive, limiting it to only newly registered or transferred vehicles. Now, however, the full rollout has been reinstated with a firm implementation date.
Will embossed number plates be installed to 2,400,000 vehicles...
The move is intended to digitize and streamline vehicle records, ensuring effective monitoring and regulation. Embossed number plates are machine-readable and are considered more secure and tamper-proof compared to traditional plates.
The meeting also discussed other pressing issues in the transport sector. It was revealed that the Security Printing Center and the Department of Transport Management had signed a memorandum of understanding in May for the printing of driving licenses. The Security Printing Center is requested to commence the printing process immediately, ideally by mid September, to ensure timely delivery. Provinces including Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki have already initiated the procurement process for required materials.
Additional decisions included establishing uniform standards for driving license issuance with a 10-year validity period, digitizing data, shifting payments to electronic platforms, streamlining software systems, resolving unsettled accounts (arrears), and implementing uniform guidelines for ride-sharing services.
The meeting was held in accordance with Section 22 of the Coordination and Inter-Relation Act, 2077, with Minister Dahal emphasizing the importance of inter-governmental cooperation to strengthen the implementation of federalism. Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma highlighted that key decisions were made after reviewing past efforts, aiming to improve public service delivery through better execution.
According to earlier committee recommendations, the cost for installing an embossed number plate is Rs 2,500 for motorcycles and scooters, Rs 3,200 for cars, jeeps, vans, and tractors and 3,600 for heavy vehicles. These charges are to be paid separately during the plate installation process.
