Patna: Applicants for driving licences in Bihar will now receive their documents within 24 hours of passing the driving test, following a new directive from the state’s transport department aimed at streamlining a process that previously took up to 10 days.
The decision was announced after a departmental review meeting chaired by transport and rural development minister Shravan Kumar, who issued strict instructions to the private agency responsible for printing licences and registration certificates. The minister said public convenience must take priority and warned that any delay in issuing driving licences would invite action.
“People should not face unnecessary inconvenience,” Kumar said, according to officials present at the meeting. “Once an applicant clears the test, the licence must be issued within the stipulated time. There should be no complaints.”
The new instructions require the agency to ensure uninterrupted printing of chip-less laminated driving licences and vehicle registration certificates across all districts. Officials have been directed to maintain a minimum stock of card-printing material sufficient for at least 90 days in every district.
Any disruption caused by shortages, the minister said, would be treated as a serious lapse, with responsibility fixed squarely on the agency concerned.
The move comes amid a steady rise in demand. According to official data, district transport offices across Bihar receive more than 55,000 driving licence applications each month. On December 16 alone, 1,840 online applications were registered statewide, with Muzaffarpur recording the highest number at 234, followed by Patna with 163. Gopalganj, Samastipur and Bhagalpur also saw heavy volumes.
District transport officers have been instructed to closely monitor the process and ensure that licences are issued promptly to all candidates who pass their tests. Regular reviews, officials said, will be conducted to ensure compliance with the new timeline.
