Telangana plans centralised printing of RCs, driving licences to speed up delivery

Hyderabad: In a move aimed at fixing long delays and plugging leakages in the system, the state govt is set to overhaul the way vehicle registration certificates (RCs) and driving licence (DL) cards are printed and delivered, shifting to a centralised, technology-driven model. At a recent high-level review, chief minister A Revanth Reddy approved a proposal to introduce a centralised printing and dispatch system, replacing the current decentralised setup, transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar said. The reform is aimed at making the process faster, cleaner and more transparent, he said.At present, all 61 regional transport office (RTO) units handle printing and delivery individually, a fragmented system that has led to persistent delays. Vehicle owners often wait weeks, and sometimes months, to receive their cards. With Telangana issuing around 4.7 lakh DLs and registering nearly 9.9 lakh vehicles annually, close to 14-15 lakh cards are processed each year—placing a heavy burden on the existing system. Beyond delays, the system has also raised concerns over accountability. During past inspections by ACB officials, hundreds of RCs and DLs were reportedly found with middlemen instead of reaching their rightful owners, highlighting risks of misuse and irregularities. For citizens, the impact has been significant. In the absence of physical cards, many face difficulties during traffic checks. Even after visiting RTO offices, applicants are often told their cards have been dispatched, but with no proper tracking mechanism, many are forced to file police complaints and apply for duplicates, adding to time and cost. Better trackingTo address these issues, the govt plans to implement a ‘centralised printing and dispatch' system. Under the proposed model, all RCs and DLs will be printed at a single facility and delivered directly to applicants' home addresses. Officials say this will cut delays, eliminate intermediaries, and ensure better tracking and accountability. The reform is expected to streamline operations and restore public trust in the system, officials said. If implemented effectively, it could significantly speed up delivery while ensuring that crucial documents reach citizens securely and without unnecessary hurdles.