The state transport department has started printing RC books and permanent driving licenses on new-themed smart cards at three centres, namely Mumbai, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar from Monday, August 21, the decision has been strongly opposed by transport unions, driving schools, and various other transport organisations.
The three centres, themselves, will print RC books and permanent driving licenses for Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state.
Also, the fact that only the said three RTOs will have the facility to print details on the smart cards has caused a furore as the Pune RTO has been excluded from the printing process. So much so that Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar raised the question in the state legislative assembly while several Pune-based organisations opposed the move. Between the said three RTOs, nearly 75,000 smart cards will be printed and despatched to applicants at RTOs across Maharashtra.
State transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said, “It is the right of the concerned company to print the smart cards. According to the company’s convenience, it has chosen three places namely Mumbai, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The transport department cannot interfere in the selection of these places.