Even though the Maharashtra Transport Department has extended the deadline for installing High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) from March 31 to April 30, over 23 lakh vehicles in Pune city have yet to apply for it.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Swapnil Bhosale, Assistant RTO Pune, said, “In Pune city, HSRP has been installed on 32,388 vehicles. 1,44,684 have so far applied and their process is underway.”
Bhosale added that over 23 lakh vehicles are yet to apply. This, he believes, is due to the HSRP fitment centres being far away from the residences of the vehicle owners. “For this, a total of 124 fitment centres have been approved for Pune. With the coordination of senior officials, the number of fitment centres will be increased for the ease of the people to install the HSRP number plate soon,” he said.
Vehicle owners across Maharashtra have been directed to install HSRP on vehicles registered before April 2019.
Made of a rare aluminium alloy, HSRP contains a retro-reflective film with a verification inscription ‘India’, a chromium-based Ashok Chakra hologram, the hot-stamped letter IND in blue and a 10-digit laser-branding of a unique serial number, making it tamper-proof.
The rates for installation of HSRPs are ₹450 for two-wheelers and tractors, ₹500 for three-wheelers and ₹745 for four-wheelers (including cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles), excluding GST.
The Transport Commissioner’s office has appointed three agencies – Rosmerta Safety Systems Ltd (Zone 1), Real Mazon India Ltd (Zone 2), and FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd (Zone 3) – for the task of installing new registration plates. Pune city (MH 12) comes under Zone 1, while Pimpri-Chinchwad (MH 14) comes under Zone 2.
As per the rule, HSRPs are fitted on the front and rear sides of the vehicles along with a third registration mark sticker on the vehicle’s 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 for their fitment is on the manufacturers.
As 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 ready by that time. After 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 web-based application.
