After three years, Punjab relaunches high-security registration plates for vehicles

FARIDKOT : Three years after the project to affix vehicles with High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) stopped across the state, the process has been started again. HSRPs can’t be replaced as they break leaving an imprint, helping deter criminals from theft of vehicles. Punjab had started implementing the scheme in 2011.

Work on implementation has restarted after the state transport department, in October, signed an agreement with Agros Impex India Private Limited, the company, that had been affixing the plates before January 2015.

Then, the state had terminated its contract following complaints of fading away of letters on HSRPs that the company had been installing on vehicles. The matter had gone into litigation.

Now, the company has agreed to replace HSRPs it had installed, if there was any complaint. The HSRP is mandatory for all vehicles, even the old ones that are without it. The process of affixation of HSRPs

started from the Ferozepur Regional Transport Authority (RTA) office last week. It began at the Faridkot RTA on Monday. There are 11 RTA offices in the state.

WORK ON 3-PHASE PROCESS STARTS

Faridkot Regional Transport Authority, secretary, Hardeep Singh said, on Monday, “We plan to implement the project in three phases. In the first step, the affixation centre will be set up at all 11 RTA offices, followed by the district and then at the sub-division. The state would be covered in around two months.”

“The department has tested the quality of plates. They are equipped with the snap lock feature and thus cannot be replaced. Within four days of the issue of the registration certificate, the HSRP will be installed on the vehicle. The work we do will be linked with the ‘Vahan’ software of the Union transport ministry,” Singh added.

The department has fixed the charges for HSRP at ₹123 for a two-wheeler and tractor, ₹167 for a three-wheeler, ₹359 for a four-wheeler and ₹383 for heavy-duty vehicle.

Gurpreet Singh, operations head of Agros Impex, said, “We have been setting up offices at the district followed by sub-division levels. We will also replace faded HSRPs if customers approach us. The rates are uniform across the state.”

“The HSRP will help trace vehicles, especially in criminal activities, as it can’t be replaced. It will also end the use of fake number plates. The HSRPs are a unique identity for vehicles,” said a senior IPS officer.

Another officer said, “The government must keep a strict vigil on the single private player to ensure that the process runs smoothly. I will have preferred if there had been multiple vendors affixing these plates to ensure competition”