Old vehicles without HSRP to be penalised from June 1

Hameed Ashraf | NT Bureau

Bengaluru: Despite the Karnataka Transport Department setting deadlines for the installation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on all old vehicles, only a few people across the state have obtained them.

As per the reports shared by the transport department, only 35 lakh out of 2 crore vehicles in the states have received HSRP plates so far. With only twelve days remaining for the deadline, vehicle owners seem unfazed.

The Karnataka government had earlier extended the HSRP deadline from February 17 to May 31, 2024. This was the third time that the deadline had been extended by the department due to various reasons including lack of public awareness.

Before this, the department had issued a notification in August 2023 mandating the installation of HSRP on old vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, setting a November 17, 2023, as a deadline.

However, due to lukewarm response, the department extended the deadline till February 17, 2024, and then to May 31, 2024. The initial extension saw a sluggish transition progress, with only 18 lakh registrations during the last phase.

The current number, though higher, still falls far short of the total number of vehicles requiring HSRP. This lack of urgency creates suspense about the government's next move.

Meanwhile the Transport Department has decided to take action against motorists who fail to obtain the HSRP by May 31 this time. Initial fines are expected to be Rs 500 and could increase to Rs 1000 for repeated offenders.

C Mallikarjun, Additional Commissioner, Transport Department, said that there is still a poor response from the vehicle owners across the state.

"The officials from the Regional Transport Office are planning to write a letter to the government regarding this. We will follow the government's orders," he said.

Made of aluminum, HSRP plates feature a 20x20 mm chromium hologram of the Ashoka Chakra Mudra on the top left corner. They have embossed English letters and numbers and are secured with two locking pins. These features make it easy to distinguish genuine plates from fakes.

How to get HSRPs?

To obtain HSRP, individuals can visit either https:// transport.karnataka.gov. in or http://www.siam.in and select the "Book HSRP" option.

They should then pick their vehicle manufacturer and provide essential vehicle details. Later, they can choose a dealer location convenient for the affixation of HSRP.

Beware of fraudsters and fake websites

Confusion about the registration process has led some vehicle owners to seek help from middlemen or unreliable websites, resulting in potential scams. Registration can be done conveniently through the official website on mobile or desktop.