Despite multiple deadline extensions and awareness campaigns, the response to mandatory High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) installation remains poor among vehicle owners in Nagpur. The Maharashtra Transport Department, which had extended the deadline from March 31 to April 30 and now June 30, is now facing an uphill task as a majority of pre-2019 registered vehicles are yet to comply. According to official data, Nagpur city and district had 21.32 lakh vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. Yet, only around 3.2 lakh (roughly 15%) have been fitted with HSRP so far. In Nagpur Rural, of the 5.65 lakh registered vehicles, 1.31 lakh appointments have been made, and 76,000 vehicles have had plates fitted.

 

In Nagpur city RTO, 60,876 appointments were booked, and 45,819 HSRP fitments were completed. The Nagpur East RTO recorded 52,239 appointments, with only 38,860 installations done. This low turnout has alarmed officials. “Despite clear instructions and availability of appointments, many vehicle owners are still ignoring the requirement,” said an RTO official. On June 2, Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar issued a stern order: Vehicle owners without valid HSRP installation will be denied essential RTO services from June 16 onwards. This includes ownership transfers, address changes, duplicate RCs, and NOCs. However, owners with pre-booked appointments will be exempt. HSRP plates, made from special aluminium and equipped with tamper-proof holograms and laser-etched serial numbers, are aimed at enhancing vehicle security and traceability.

 

Yet, various challenges are slowing down implementation. Many vehicle owners complain about the complicated on-line booking system and long queues at fitment centres. Others report illegal overcharging and improper installations by some dealers, despite clear rules laid out by the department. An RTO official stated that only plates issued by authorised vendors and updated on the VAHAN portal are valid. Violation may attract a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The RTO officials warn that after June 16, a strict crackdown will begin, especially against vehicles with fancy or non-standard plates. As compliance remains critically low, enforcement and penalties are now likely to become the main tools for pushing the lagging implementation, he said.