The Department of Transport Management under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has made it mandatory to install “embossed number plates” on vehicles starting from October 17 (1st of Asoj). In response, the Central Federation of Public Transport, Nepal, has strongly objected to the decision.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, the Federation accused the move of being against the interests of transport entrepreneurs, impractical, and even undermining the nation’s sovereignty. “Without preparing any infrastructure in the country, an attempt has been made to impose foreign technology,” reads the statement issued by Federation General Secretary Bharat Nepal.

He warned that the decision was made unilaterally in cooperation with a foreign company and that it could pose risks to the privacy of Nepali citizens as well as to national security. The Federation claimed that through the embossed plate system, citizens’ complete personal details could end up under the control of a foreign company.

The Federation expressed its strong disagreement with the government’s plan to make this system mandatory for all public, private, tourism, and freight service vehicles. “We urge the general public, journalists, legal practitioners, and the entire transport sector to take this issue seriously,” the statement reads.

Stressing that the matter should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations with the government, the Federation urged the authorities not to enforce a decision that ignores infrastructure readiness, practicality, and the interests of transport entrepreneurs.