Viraj.DeshpandeNagpur: Vehicle owners who neither installed a High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) nor booked an appointment for installation should think twice before hitting the road from July 1 as Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and traffic police will begin an enforcement drive in the state, including Nagpur, against violators.Maharashtra transport department has, however, clarified that owners who have booked an HSRP appointment on or before June 30 will be exempt from action till their scheduled installation is completed.Officials said violators found operating vehicles without HSRP will be fined Rs 1,000 under Motor Vehicles Act. In Nagpur, the enforcement drive will be jointly carried out by RTO (City) and RTO (East), headed by regional transport officer Kiran Bidkar, and RTO (rural) led by regional transport officer Vijay Chavhan and traffic police.“Fourteen flying squads have been constituted across three RTOs to carry out inspections and initiate action from July 1,” said an official.The crackdown is kicking off even as many vehicle owners are yet to comply with the mandatory HSRP requirement. Data with transport department show that against 14.35 lakh eligible vehicles across the three Nagpur RTOs, only 7.77 lakh owners have booked appointments for HSRP installation, while 7.02 lakh vehicles have been fitted with the tamper-proof number plates. This means only 48.9% eligible vehicles have completed HSRP formalities, while appointment bookings stand at 54.1% with half owners yet to comply.The department also widened restrictions on services available to vehicles without HSRP. While ownership transfer, change of address and hypothecation-related services had already been barred, RTOs have now been directed to stop additional services such as vehicle re-registration, approval of vehicle alterations and renewal of permits or licences. Only renewal of fitness certificates will continue to be permitted for vehicles without HSRP.Govt and semi-govt departments have also been instructed to ensure that vehicles in their control are fitted with HSRP before the deadline. District administrations have been asked to undertake extensive awareness campaigns, while auto-rickshaw, taxi, truck and bus associations, along with vehicle dealers, have been urged to encourage owners of older vehicles to complete HSRP installation.
