Punjab in Gear Jam: Over 2.5 lakhs RCs, licenses stuck amid tender delay
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 5, 2025 – A new challenge has emerged for residents of Punjab applying for Driving Licences and Registration Certificates (RCs) of new vehicles.Due to technical issues, the State Transport Department has been unable to issue new tenders, resulting in a backlog of over 2.5 lakh pending applications.
According to Punjab Transport Department’s Administrative Secretary Varun Roojam, the delay in issuing tenders is due to technical reasons. Although the backlog once exceeded 5 lakh cases, the department has managed to clear around 2.5 lakh of them.
However, there is no fixed timeline yet for when the tender process will be completed, adding to the uncertainty for thousands of applicants.
Rising Demand and Staffing Shortages
With a sharp rise in the number of vehicles on the road each year, applications for driving licences and RCs have also surged.The department is struggling to cope due to insufficient staff and limited resources, forcing new vehicle owners to wait 6 to 8 months to receive their documents.
Another major issue the department faces is the absence of proper records for scrapped vehicles. Many individuals sell their old vehicles as scrap without officially canceling their RCs.
This has resulted in a large number of defunct vehicles still being listed in the system, making data management increasingly difficult.
More than 2 crore vehicles are currently registered in Punjab, and the number is growing steadily.
Despite this, the Transport Department continues to face serious challenges in managing the RC and licence processes efficiently. The ongoing pressure on both technical systems and manpower is complicating the situation further.
While the department claims it is making efforts to resolve the crisis, officials admit that until the tendering process is completed and adequate resources are allocated, the backlog and delays will persist.
Citizens and applicants have urged the state government to intervene swiftly to ensure timely delivery of essential services.