Vehicle registration woes: No Smart cards for newly registered vehicles

Delay in issuance causes trouble for vehicle owners

Team Udayavani, Jan 29, 2025, 11:11 AM IST

Mangaluru: Purchasing a new vehicle has become a headache for many owners, as RC smart cards remain undelivered despite months of waiting. Several vehicle owners across Karnataka, including Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Udupi, Mysuru, Bidar, and Puttur, are facing issues due to delays in the distribution of smart cards for vehicle registration.

Owners report that even after two to three months of purchasing new vehicles, they are hesitant to drive on roads without registration documents. Many are forced to shuttle between offices in an effort to obtain their smart cards. Allegedly, several owners have been fined during police inspections due to the lack of valid registration documents.

This problem has worsened over the last couple of years, with the transport department providing no satisfactory answers. While officials cite technical issues, vehicle owners complain that the situation remains unresolved. Particularly in border areas like coastal Karnataka, Kerala police reportedly do not permit vehicles to operate without registration documents, leading to additional complications. Vehicle owners have also expressed their frustration to dealers, seeking solutions.

Reason behind delays

The delay is attributed to the expiration of a private agency’s contract. Officials revealed that the responsibility for issuing smart cards had been outsourced to Rosmerta, a private company. However, delays occurred as their contract ended. A temporary extension has been granted to the agency, but critics argue that the government’s lack of proactive measures is the root cause of the issue.

Technical challenges in software transfer

Last year, delays were noted during the transition of software systems. Officials had explained that information errors in some cards caused disruptions in distribution. Despite the passage of a year, the issue remains unresolved, leaving vehicle owners in the lurch.

Mobile notifications sent, but cards undelivered

While vehicle owners receive mobile notifications stating that smart cards have been dispatched via post, many report not receiving them even weeks later. A Mangaluru resident shared that after receiving such a notification, visits to the post office, vehicle showroom, and RTO office still did not yield results.

Documents available on DigiLocker

Officials highlighted that, due to a shortage of chip-embedded smart cards, distribution has been delayed. They added that all vehicle documents are available for download on the DigiLocker platform, which can serve as temporary proof.

Shortage of smart cards

An RTO official mentioned that the delays are due to a shortage of chip-enabled cards. However, senior officials claim there are no major issues. Vehicle owners, on the other hand, question the appropriateness of such delays in an era of advanced technology.

“Technical issues may occasionally cause minor delays, but the problem is not widespread. Local RTOs facing such issues are expected to resolve them independently,” said Yogesh A. M., State Transport Commissioner.

“It has been two months since I purchased a new car, but the smart card has not arrived. No clear answers are being provided by anyone. While officials assured it would reach my home via post, I am still waiting. The lack of a smart card is causing unnecessary hassles during travel, especially on long trips,” said Lokesh, a car owner from Mangaluru.

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