Maharashtra transport department sets March 31 deadline to fix high security number plates on vehicles

More than two crore vehicles registered in Maharashtra before April 2019 will have to be fitted with High Security Registration Plates HSRP in the next four months to avoid imposition of penalty on their owners reported news agency PTIThe Maharashtra Transport Department Commissioners Office has set March 31 2025 deadline for installation of the HSRPs to the vehicles and appointed three agencies after a longdrawnout tendering process to carry out the taskThe authorities issued the Standard Operating Procedures SOPs for the new registration plates on Wednesday a day before the new Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in reported PTITo curb vehicle thefts and bring uniformity in vehicles identity marks the fitment of these number plates was made mandatory for the vehicles registered in Maharashtra before April 2019 and the onus of installing those was on the manufacturersMade of a rare aluminum alloy HSRP contains a retroreflective film with a verification inscription India a chromiumbased Ashok Chakra hologram the hotstamped letter IND in blue and a 10digit laserbranding of a unique serial number making it tamperproofIt is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to get HSRP and a third registration mark sticker installed by March 31 2025 the SOPs said reported PTIThe enforcement authorities Regional Transport Offices and police have been authorised to take legal action and impose fine for noncompliance under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 after the March 2025 deadline endsThe rates for installation of the HSRPs are Rs 450 for twowheelers and tractors Rs 500 for threewheelers and Rs 745 for fourwheelers including cars trucks buses and other vehicles excluding GSTThe Transport Commissioners office has appointed three agencies Rosmerta Safety Systems Ltd Real Mazon India Ltd and FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd for the task of installing new registration plates in three zones across MaharashtraRosmerta will handle Zone 1 12 RTO offices Real Mazon will cover Zone 2 16 RTO offices and FTA will manage Zone 3 27 RTO offices the SOPs saidThe guidelines however did not mention any particular date from which the agencies will start fitment of the number platesSome retired RTO officials said the deadline set for affixing the number plates with a unique identification number and predetermined security features was impracticalThe Maharashtra transport commissioner has set a ridiculous and impractical deadline for installing HSRP on old vehicles It takes more than six months for RTOs to recalibrate emeters of 57 lakh autos and taxis How is it possible for three agencies to install HSRP to more than two crore vehicles in less than a fourmonth period a retired official of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department said reported PTIAs per the rule HSRPs are fitted on the front and rear sides of the vehicles along with a third registration mark sticker on the vehicles windscreen as prescribed in Rule 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act For new vehicles registered as of April 1 2019 HSRPs have already been made mandatory and the responsibility of their fitment is on the manufacturers reported PTIIn August 2023 the Maharashtra government had invited tenders for the fitment of HSRPs to more than two crore vehicles registered before April 1 2019As per the HSRP tender documents about 210 crore vehicles including 162 crore twowheelers and 33 lakh fourwheelers were registered in Maharashtra between 2008 and 2019Each agency must set up HSRP embossing and installation centres in their respective zones based on vehicle numbers They will also create software or an application for appointments payments and grievance handlingAs per the SOPs vehicle owners will have to book an appointment for HSRP installation at least two days in advance and the agencies are required to have the HSRP plates ready by that timeAfter installation the agencies will have to update the details of the affixed plates including the unique laser number at least 10 digits vehicle registration number and photos through the webbased applicationWith inputs from PTI