Patna: Transport department has made it mandatory for all vehicle owners in the state to update their Aadhaar Card-linked cellphone numbers in their registration certificates and driving licences to get pollution and fitness certificates, besides availing contactless services, transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said on Thursday. The deadline for updating cellphone numbers in driving licences and vehicle registrations is March 31, after which a penalty will be imposed on the owners. Agarwal said that modifications will be implemented in vehicle software to ensure pollution and fitness certificates are issued only after the Aadhaar-linked phone number is updated. “A departmental assessment reveals that approximately 2.4 million vehicle owners have not updated their Aadhaar-linked cellphone numbers from 2014 to 2025, preventing them from accessing contactless services,” he said. Since Sept 2024, only 32,000 people updated their Aadhaar-linked phone numbers in vehicle registrations, as per the database of the transport department. Agarwal added that several vehicle owners and drivers have incorrect or inactive cellphone numbers and addresses in vehicle registrations and driving licences. “This creates challenges in identifying the owners or drivers during accidents or incidents. Additionally, traffic violation e-challan notifications cannot reach offenders,” the secretary said. Agarwal further said that those who wish to register new numbers, can do so online from the comforts of one’s home.
