The shortage of these electronic chips embedded in licenses and RCs is said to be due to problems importing them from abroad
UPDATE – 11:39 PM, MONDAY – DECEMBER 22
The shortage of these electronic chips embedded in licenses and RCs is said to be due to problems importing them from abroad
Hyderabad: A shortage of electronic chips may lead the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to temporarily issue driver’s licenses (DL) and certificates of registration (RC) without chip embedding from the first week of December.
The shortage of these electronic chips embedded in licenses and RCs is said to be caused by problems importing them from abroad.
To check forged or copied driver’s licenses and the use of RCs, traffic officials have introduced smart cards with electronic chips embedded in PVC for motorists. An electronic driver’s license (eDL, electronic driver license) is an official document enhanced with an electronic chip that stores the holder’s personal data, including biographical and biometrics, for verification purposes.
However, it is understood that over the past two months, authorities have either stopped issuing cards altogether or issued fewer cards. This is directly attributable to lower imports of electronic chips, mainly from China and Japan. In addition to imposing restrictions on imports from China, the Russo-Ukraine war has also had an impact on supplies.
It is understood that about 500,000 driver’s licenses or registration certificates are waiting to be issued and piled up in various regional offices.
Sources said the Department of Transportation has approached the state government to allow cards without electronic chips and has received a positive response.
Therefore, RTA officials have decided to clear pending driving licenses and RCs to motorists in plain PVC cards without electronic chips until the chips are available again, which may take two to three months.
On the other hand, with the issuance of driver’s licenses and RCs without security features such as electronic chip smart cards, the possibility of identity theft and fraudulent cards is high.
However, officials insist this is a temporary arrangement and that smart cards will be available soon.
