Tirupati: Many vehicle owners under Regional Transport Authority (RTA) offices of Chittoor, Tirupati and Madanapalle regions are reportedly driving without driving licenses (DLs) and registration certificates (RCs) for more than four months now. This is because of delay in issue of DLs and RCs, as smart cards are in short supply.
Many vehicle owners say they are yet to receive their licences or certificates despite clearing the driving tests, all mandatory checks of their vehicles, and paying the requisite fee.
Transport department officials, however, claim the issue related to shortage of cards will soon be resolved, as they have received 35,000 cards on Wednesday, as against the current requirement of 27,000-odd cards.
Sources said there has been a backlog of nearly four months in issue of DLs and RCs because private firms, which provide smart cards, have not been able to supply the required number of cards due to shortage of semiconductors globally. Some are attributing the delay to appointment of a new contractor for supply of cards.
According to reports, the three RTAs in Chittoor district have to supply 27,120 new or renewal cards (13,120 DLs and 14,000 RCs). Of these, the Tirupati RTA has to distribute 13,250 cards (6,750 DLs and 6,500 RCs), Chittoor RTA 11,000 cards (5,500 DLs and 5,500 RCs) and Madanapalle RTA 3,050 cards (1,050 DLs and 2,000 RCs).
A few applicants with whom Deccan Chronicle spoke said they are troubled as the centre and state governments have not extended the validity of expired DLs and RCs beyond October 31. Many urged transport authorities to come up with a permanent solution, as smart card shortages have been recurring.
When Deccan Chronicle contacted Chittoor deputy transport commissioner M. Basi Reddy, he admitted they had been facing a shortage of cards since September last year. He, however, claimed the issue has now been resolved.
“As on date, we have to supply 27,000-odd cards related to new / renewed DLs and RCs. We received 35,000 cards on Wednesday and commenced the printing process. We will dispatch cards to individuals in a couple of days. Thereafter, we will dispatch cards on a daily basis,” Basi Reddy maintained.
