Lack of transparency in HSRP

New Delhi, October 15 : Registration plate makers today alleged that some vendors selected by states are supplying high security number plates at an exorbitant price which may lead to a loss of Rs 4,850 to vehicle owners.

The government had in 2000-01 launched High Security Registration Plates to provide special number plates with laser numbering to all two wheelers and four wheelers.

Accordingly, the states had been asked to invite bids from the manufacturers of such number plates to provide their products.

"The selection of the HSRP manufacturer by the states has been done based on the whims and fancies of the respective state governments, alleged Ravi Somani, president of Association of Registration Plates Manufacturer of India.

Somani further added,"some of the states have selected vendors who were supplying them the product at Rs 1,816 per set for four wheelers while the same can be procured at Rs 440-460 without compromising on the quality,"he said.

"If calculated, all this will lead to a loss of Rs 4,850 crore to the vehicle owners across the country,"he said at a press conference here.

ARPMI, which represents the certified manufacturers of high security registration plates, said it will make a presentations before the government highlighting the need for uniformity and transparency in the selection criteria of manufacturers

Slow Implementation of High Security Number Plates in Sikkim

Gangtok,October09:  Almost six years after the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways notified the introduction of High Security Registration Number Plates (HSRNP)—touted as one of the best anti-theft systems for vehicles—the ambitious plan finally took off after directive of Supreme Court and Government of Sikkim issued a notificatio on 11th December 2008 making HSRNP mandatory for all vehicles in Sikkim. The Motor Vehicle department started implementing order since March 2009 as per latest details only 1700 vehicles out of approximately 3000 registered vehicles by department in Sikkim.There hasbeen only 1 local taxi ,1 Main Line jeep and 2 buses in state which have opted for these plates.

All new vehicles in the country will have to come equipped with these sophisticated number plates, while in-use vehicles will have to replace their current plates with HSRNPs within two years, said a senior official from the Ministry. It is believed that the measure will help keep a check on vehicle thefts and will allow authorities to track stolen vehicles.

The tamper-proof number plates are estimated to cost about Rs 2,500 per vehicle and cannot be easily removed and replaced.

The HSRNP concept dates back to 1997 when the Standing Technical Committee of Central Motor Vehicles Rules recommended that they be instated by 1999. Before doing so, the Committee studied the prevalent security features on number plates in different countries. The Ministry also engaged several agencies to shortlist vendors to manufacture these number plates and notified the scheme in 2001.