Feasibility questioned over switch to eDL, eRC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 20 2025: Transport Department's sudden move to fully adopt electronic Driving Licences (eDL) and electronic Registration Certificates (eRC), replacing physical smartcards, has drawn criticism, raising serious concerns about transparency, feasibility, and potential financial implications.

The directive, issued on May 6, this year, by the then director of the Transport just days before her transfer, instructed all District Transport Officers (DTOs) to stop printing smartcard DLs and RCs and adopt digital formats instead.

The move has sparked apprehension among the public and transport officials alike, particularly in a state still grappling with infrastructural limitations and a volatile law-and-order situation.

Critics argued that the abrupt implementation of eDL and eRC, without offering the option of physical smartcards, contradicts an earlier office memorandum issued on January 17, 2025 which clearly stated that citizens could still obtain physical DLs and RCs by paying a prescribed fee.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had also directed states via its August 8, 2018 letter to provide citizens with the choice between digital and physical documents.

However, the recent directive appears to bypass this mandate, leaving the public with no option but to rely on digital documents.

In contrast, larger states and metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and even tech hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad have not yet made a full transition to eDL and eRC.

As a result of the new directive, many license holders are now printing their eDL and eRC on PVC cards at local DTP and computer centres near Transport department offices, including at Babupara.

These private printers are reportedly charging between Rs 200 and Rs 350 per card, raising concerns about an emerging nexus and potential loss of state revenue.

Previously, the state-run MANITRON was responsible for issuing smartcard DLs and RCs for a fixed government fee of Rs 200.With the new move, the role of MANITRON, along with its investments in infrastructure across the state and the employment it generates, could now be in jeopardy, despite its standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Transport department.

While the benefits of digital documentation, such as reduced risk of loss or damage and easier storage, are widely acknowledged, critics pointed out that the decision fails to account for ground realities.

Many senior citizens and economically weaker sections who either lack smartphones or are not adept at using them, could face difficulties during routine checks by law enforcement agencies.

Moreover, concerns have been raised about data access during periods of internet shutdowns, which are not uncommon in the state due to ongoing security issues.

In such situations, eDL and eRC documents become virtually inaccessible, complicating the already tense interactions during vehicle frisking or verification.

Legal experts and members of the public also worry that digital documents can be easily duplicated or tampered with, potentially opening the door for forgeries and vehicle thefts.

With basic editing tools, unscrupulous elements could generate fake credentials that may pass unchecked.

Besides, there may be the issue of batteries of mobile phones being drained at the time of checking, making it impossible to access the eDLs and eRCs.

Given these pressing issues, many among the public question the urgency and rationale behind the Transport department's decision to phase out physical cards altogether.

Several citizens and stakeholders have urged the government to reconsider its approach and allow both digital and physical formats to coexist, especially when the rest of the country has not yet fully adopted the electronic-only model.

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