The recent decision of the State Government of making High Security Number Plates (HSRP) mandatory for all vehicles bought before April 1, 2019 is drawing flak for amount the Government is charging. To implement the mandate of the Government, number plates of over two crore vehicles will need to be changed before March 31. Janmanch, an organisation that consistently takes up issues of public importance, has asked as to why HSRP costs more in Maharashtra as comapred to other States. Maharashtra charges an amount of Rs 450 for changing number plates of a two-wheeler, while Goa charges Rs 155; Gujarat charges Rs 160; Punjab charges Rs 200; and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh charges Rs 245.

 

 

For a three-wheeler, where Maharashtra government charges Rs 500; next highest Andhra Pradesh charges only Rs 282; the rates in Goa are Rs 155; in Gujarat Rs 200; and in Punjab it costs about Rs 270. The middle class, who now mostly own atleast one car at each home in urban areas, has to pay Rs 745 for HSRP number plate in Maharahstra. Whereas Goa charges Rs 203 for same service. Even the charges of Rs 460 in Gujarat; Rs 634 in Punjab; and Rs 649 in Andhra Pradesh are lesser than that of Maharashtra. Janmanch, through its press release, raised the question about the costing as per the tender to change HSRP. It said, “ Even though the costing indicated to be Rs 600 crore in the tender, it might be in the range of Rs 1,500 crore looking at the charges for various categories and number of vehicle availing this facility.”

 

Rajiv Jagtap, President, Janmanch has demanded that the tender should be reconsidered and the rates should be brought down to be at par with that of Gujarat. Vittahlrao Jawalkar, General Secretary; Adv Manohar Radke, Vice President; Mohan Shinde; Sharad Patil; T B Jagtap and others have also demanded the same. The switch to HSRP is aimed at enhancing vehicle security and standardising registration process. These number plates are claimed to be effective in curbing vehicle theft. Made of a rare aluminum alloy, HSRP contains a retro-reflective film with a verification inscription ‘INDIA’, a chromium based Ashok Chakra hologram, the hot-stamped letter IND in blue, and a 10-digit laser branding of unique serial numbers, making it tamper-proof.