It seems that state government’s plan of introducing high-security registration plates (HSRPs) for nearly three crore vehicles has been put on hold as the last date for inviting tenders has been postponed to June 12, which initially was May 28.
There is a possibility that the state transport department will extend the deadline even further as a high-power committee chaired by Maharashtra’s chief secretary will discuss the possibility of changing some rules on the HSRP draft.
Currently, it is mandatory for automobile manufacturers to supply HSRPs for vehicles that will be registered at regional transport offices (RTOs) post-January 1, 2019. However, the transport commissioner’s office has suggested against including these vehicles from the tender. The chief secretary, heading the transport committee on this issue will take a final decision. But as he is on leave, there is a possibility that the deadline for tenders will get postponed.
This is the state government’s fourth attempt to invite bids for the ₹1400 Cr HSRP project. The first two bids got cancelled in 2007 and 2013 owing to a legal battle. Likewise, the bidding process was also cancelled in 2014 when the Centre proposed a new road transport and safety bill.
High-Security Registration Plates are made of a rare aluminum alloy and contain a retro-reflective hologram, hot-stamped lettering, a 10-digit unique serial number, that will be fitted with a snap lock, that is expected to be a tamper-proof license plate eventually helping curb vehicle theft.
As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MORTH) guidelines, HSRPs should be installed only through an authorised vendor.
The tenders were issued under the monitoring of a 10-member committee formed by the Maharashtra government in March 2017. The transport department informed that the whole process will be monitored by the experts.
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