Punjab's driving licence holders can upgrade to chip version soon

Rajmeet Singh

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Chandigarh, July 19

Hundreds of driving licence holders across the state will now get a special window to opt for chip-based licence, subject to certain conditions.

SOP being framed

• The transport department has initiated the process to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP), wherein the Regional Transport Officer concerned will verify the paper record before allowing the conversion to chip-based licence

The transport department recently stopped the renewal of paper-based licence to digital format in the absence of verification of the paper record and following complaints of misuse by unscrupulous elements. This often resulted in harassment in cases where the validity of the licence had expired.

The department has now initiated the process to frame a standard operating procedure, wherein the Regional Transport Officer concerned will verify the paper record before allowing the conversion to chip-based licence. For this, the presence of paper record with the respective RTO was mandatory, said a senior government functionary.

Initially, the department had announced that the renewal of such licences would not be undertaken and those affected would have to apply for a learner’s licence, which could then be converted to a permanent licence as per procedure.

Officials said those who had obtained their licence before the digitalisation of records were in a spot. After the verification of the old paper record, their data had to be added to the portal.

It has also been tough for those who migrated to other states and sought the renewal of their documents. The state transport had written to the transport authorities of other states not to renew their licence without verifying records on the interstate portal.

Sources in the department said the issue regarding paper-based registration documents was another area that needed to be addressed.