Pune: Traffic violations are growing in the city where most residents not only continue to ignore the regulation to use high security registration plates (HSRPs), but many go to the extent of brazenly driving or riding two- and four-wheelers without any number in place.The situation poses safety risks and raises serious questions about the authorities’ commitment to enforce rules, despite repeated assurances of action against vehicles without HSRPs, said residents.Working professional Prakash Wakde encountered an incident along MG Road recently that raised pertinent questions. “There were four seemingly new two-wheelers. The riders were commuting rashly, cutting lanes and honking continuously. I moved aside to let them pass and tried to click a picture to report to the RTO — but there were no registration numbers at all. How are such vehicles allowed on the road?” he said.Regulations make it necessary for dealers to get HSRPs fitted on vehicles leaving the showroom. Additionally, the deadline to install HSRPs on vehicles registered before April 2019 expired in Dec, last year. Former transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar had earlier said action against violators would begin from Feb 20, but there has been no enforcement on the ground.Residents saidthe issue is widespread. Office-goer Anirudh Jain of Baner said, “Forget HSRPs — vehicles without number plates, especially two-wheelers, move freely on city roads. If this flouting of rules is visible to us, how do the authorities miss it? They have forgotten the Pune Porsche incident and assurances made after that.”The Porsche accident on May 19, 2024, had claimed two lives. The Pune RTO had then warned dealers against selling vehicles without number plates. Some dealerships faced suspension of trade licences, too. However, residents feel that enforcement had since weakened.Kondhwa resident Jameel Shaikh said, “It seems that it will take another tragedy for the authorities to react. In my neighbourhood, it is common to see youngsters on two-wheelers without number plates riding rashly without a care for traffic rules.”Meanwhile, Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle said he would look into the matter.Another RTO official admitted to the seriousness of the matter and said action was needed in coordination with the police. “Car owners often delay registration plates or remove HSRPs for fancy numbers. Regardless, the offence is serious and will be investigated. The traffic police must act against such offenders,” the official said.On the delayed enforcement of HSRP norms, a state transport department official said that although the deadline has not been extended, there was still time before serious action was taken. “We are giving residents another chance to comply,” a senior department official said.
