KATHMANDU: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal has emphasized that embossed number plates on vehicles are necessary to advance the government’s Digital Nepal initiative.
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Minister Dahal explained that agreements for installing embossed plates had been signed three times in the past, and failing to implement them would require the government to pay Rs 3 billion to manufacturers without receiving any production. He clarified that the current government was merely implementing previous agreements.
“Embossed plates must be installed on vehicles because prior contracts exist. If we don’t install them, the government will have to pay the manufacturers without receiving anything,” Dahal said, noting that the English language specification for the plates does not create any complications.
The ministry has already printed 635,545 plates, and 87,989 embossed number plates have been installed on both private and government vehicles.
Minister Dahal added that digitizing vehicle registration aligns with the Digital Nepal concept, which has already been implemented in passports, national identity cards, driver’s licenses, and land registration. “Installing embossed plates on vehicles will provide accurate records nationwide, prevent vehicle theft, and curb revenue-related irregularities,” he said.
He also explained that embossed plates use identification technology in English, facilitating cross-border travel and improving interoperability.
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