Despite multiple deadline extensions, awareness campaigns and repeated warnings of penalties, the State Transport Department has once again pushed back the deadline for High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) till June 30, 2026, which exposed the poor response from vehicle owners and the weak implementation of the project on the ground. Lakhs of vehicles across the State are still running without HSRP plates, yet enforcement on roads remains minimal. At the same time, many citizens are openly questioning the quality of the plates, the cost involved and the logic behind making the rule mandatory for older vehicles. Even after repeated appeals and extensions, the response from vehicle owners remains far from satisfactory. Officials say nearly half of the eligible vehicles across Maharashtra are still without HSRP plates. The situation in Nagpur reflects the same trend. Data from the three regional RTOs shows that lakhs of vehicles are yet to complete the process.

 

In Nagpur City RTO, around 4,37,313 vehicle owners have registered for HSRP, but only 2,33,757 plates are currently under installation or fitted. The department has so far registered 494 cases related to number plate violations and collected fines worth Rs 5.26 lakh. At Nagpur East RTO, 2,25,408 vehicles have installed HSRP plates till now. In Nagpur Rural, where around 5.63 lakh vehicles are registered, only about 2.87 lakh vehicles have completed HSRP installation. Despite warnings from the Transport Department, actual enforcement on roads is still minimal. Vehicles with old number plates continue to move freely across the city and highways and many motorists believe the repeated extensions indicate that strict checking is unlikely anytime soon.

 

The government says HSRP plates are necessary to prevent vehicle theft, use of fake registration numbers and misuse of vehicles in criminal activities. The plates come with laser-etched codes, chromium-based stickers and unique identification linked to official databases. However, many citizens have raised concerns about the quality of the plates and the way the entire system is being implemented.

 

Weak plates, bends easily Several vehicle owners claimed that the metal used in the plates is weak and bends easily. Others complained that the plates get damaged quickly, especially on rough roads or after minor impact. “There is no objection to better security, but why force owners of old vehicles to replace their plates now?” said Saurabh Suryawanshi, a resident from Nagpur who recently installed HSRP on his decade-old motorcycle. “This rule should have been made compulsory only for new vehicles from the beginning.” Another car owner questioned the durability of the plates.“People are paying money for these plates, but the quality does not look premium. Even normal pressure bends them. Many are not happy with what they received,” he said.

 

Booking websites cheats vehicle owners Apart from quality concerns, several loopholes in the HSRP system have also come to light in recent months. Sources informed that fake HSRP plates are reportedly being sold openly in some markets. Authorities in different states have also uncovered fake booking websites that allegedly cheated vehicle owners by collecting online payments. There are also complaints about delays in appointments, technical glitches on booking portals and hidden charges at fitment centres. Some motorists said they had to wait several weeks after booking an appointment. Others claimed they received plates with incorrect vehicle details or without the mandatory windshield sticker.

 

Ordinary screws instead of snap locks Questions are also being raised over installation practices. In some cases, ordinary screws are allegedly being used instead of tamper-proof snap locks which defeated the main security purpose of HSRP. Transport officials have urged citizens to book appointments only through the official Maharashtra Transport Department portal and avoid unauthorized agents or suspicious websites. Meanwhile, many vehicle owners continue to delay installation despite repeated notices and awareness campaigns. However, the success of the HSRP drive may ultimately depend not just on deadlines and fines, but also on public trust in the system itself.