What's HSRP? Ignorance stops vehicle owners from making a switch

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: With a lack of clarity among vehicle owners regarding the process and costs of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP), only a few number of registration plates have been supplied in the state.

Karnataka transport department on August 17 issued a notification requiring all vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, to get HSRP by November 17 this year.

It will be mandatory for all vehicles to have the HSRP and penal action will be taken against vehicle owners who fail to comply with the deadline, with fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1000.

However, according to sources from the transport department, there is very little awareness regarding HSRP plates because of which not even 200 number plates have been issued in the last month.

As per the estimate from the transport department, nearly 1.75 crore vehicles were registered in the state before April 1, 2019.

"Very few people who own old/existing vehicles have placed requests for HSRP number plates in the last 30 days," an official from the transport department told New Trail.

Authorised private vehicle showrooms in Bengaluru said that there is lack of awareness among people. "So far we have not received any instructions from the transport department regarding the HSRP number plates being mandated for old vehicles. However we are still contacting our customers and asking them to get these number plates for their vehicles based on the directions given by our company," said a two-wheeler showroom manager in Kamakshipalya.

Another showroom salesman in Yeshwanthpur said that they are regularly informing customers about this when they visit their service centres. Several vehicle owners expressed frustration and said when they attempted to book an HSRP following the notification, they could not get the list of authorized dealers in their area.

"Vehicle owners themselves have to visit the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and ask for an HSRP number plate. However we can help them by placing an online request. However most people feel it is very tiresome to go to the RTOs," said Syed, manager of a four-wheeler showroom in Electronic City.

It took nearly two decades for the government to mandate the HSRP number plates which were only at a discussion stage in 2001 to 2019.

 How to get HSRP plates for old/existing vehicles?

At present, vehicle manufacturers have tie-ups with authorised HSRP manufacturers to supply these plates to vehicle dealers.

Even for old vehicles, the plates will be supplied by authorised HSRP manufacturers.

"Owners of old or existing vehicles will be able to place orders for installation of HSRP through the authorised dealers of vehicle manufacturers," a senior official from the transport department said.

After installing an HSR P, authorised dealers or manufacturers will have to ensure that the laser-coding is updated on the Vahan portal.

Why are HSRP plates mandatory?

The HSRP scheme directly contributes to national security by enhancing vehicle safety and security while curbing vehicle-related criminal activities.

The number plates have some unique features including permanent identification number and a chromiumbased hologram which cannot be tampered with or counterfeited and will help in uniformity in registration plates. It will also help identify all vehicles plying on roads.