Biometric driving license introduced in Bihar

PATNA: Now, people will not be able to obtain driving licence from the district transport office here in absentia. Gone are the days when touts used to obtain licences on behalf of people by greasing the palms of district transport office employees.

This is no more possible as physical presence of the applicant has become mandatory for obtaining a biometric smart card driving licence (DL). The old diary DL system has been scrapped.

However, till date, most DL holders are not aware about the fact that their physical presence is essential for obtaining biometric DL card. A large number of DL users are still continuing with old diary DL.

Biometric smart card driving licence is quite different from the diary DL. It has a SIM-card like micro-chip that has hidden information about the owner`s thumb impression and permanent address. While other basic information like the name of the card holder, photograph, present address, date of birth, blood group and validity of card are printed on the card.

“Gone are the days when one used to get driving licence without visiting the district transport office,” said DTO Harihar Prasad, adding “I can say with certainty that without physical verification of the applicant not a single driving licence is being issued from our office”.

To get a biometric smart card DL, applicant has to fill up an application form giving details of address poof, thumb impression, photograph and other essential details. Within three days of submitting these, a learning DL is issued.

To make it easy to get biometric smart card DL, DTO provides a single window system. One can complete all formalities at window number 7. There is a separate window for women.

One can get his old dairy DL converted into a smart card one within three days by submitting the old DL along with a fee of Rs 200.

Even those who have shifted here from other cities can get smart card DLs by paying Rs 200 each along with their old DL and furnishing proof of local address and reason of staying here. After verifying their old DLs from their city DTO, new ones will be issued here within three days.