Probe ordered into delays in vehicle number plates and driving licences

Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development has ordered a formal investigation into delays in issuing vehicle number plates and driving licences by the Department of Motor Traffic.

The committee instructed officials to submit a comprehensive report within 45 days covering how the delays began, the administrative and technical factors involved, and the relevant tender and procurement processes.

The instructions were issued at a recent meeting of the committee chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar.

Department officials told the committee that number plates were now being issued within 14 days for vehicles registered after 10 March 2026.

The delay in issuing driving licences was also discussed. Officials said around 678,000 licences were currently awaiting printing, while the department’s daily printing capacity stood at only about 4,600 licences, causing the backlog to continue growing.

They said two new printing machines were expected to be installed by 15 October, increasing daily capacity to about 8,200 licences.

The committee stressed the need to upgrade equipment and technical facilities to improve public services and prevent similar delays in future.

It also questioned officials on administrative efficiency, staff vacancies, delays in procurement and measures needed to reduce unnecessary delays in providing services to the public.