The High-Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) made a brief re-entry, but chaos reigned supreme forcing the Transport Department to put the entire exercise on hold last month. Surprisingly, the agency appointed to install the registration plates -- Ms Real Mazon -- failed the RTO test once again raising serious questions on the entire process. This exercise is flawed because authorities are still not convinced about the agency delivering what it promised. Compromises have been made overlooking the convenience of people and the much-hyped ‘security’ the Transport Department is talking has been a myth.
Now that the fitment of plates is stalled, what is the status of the ones that have already been fitted? HSRP number plates must have a chromium-based tamper-proof hologram. The numbers on the plate have a distinct and uniform styling and are fastened with a non-removable snap-lock fitting system. Against these requirements, there are apprehensions over the authenticity of the new plates with discrepancies over fitment and even digits. Who will hold responsibility for these inconsistencies? Is it the Transport Department or Real Mazon, or will the common man face the brunt once again after all the pain he endured for patiently sweating it out in serpentine queues to get the job done?
The Transport Department has made a complete mockery of this exercise once again. Blaming the previous regime cannot be accepted because it was the duty of officers to give clearance to the agency after a thorough ground check. The RTO has all the stats on vehicles and accordingly this should have been well-planned so that people are not exposed to hardships. On what basis was Real Mazon told to go ahead when they didn’t have the wherewithal or logistics to cater to Goa?
The very fact that the agency is falling short of requirements indicates that the Transport Department had rushed through the process without any checks and balances and took the people of Goa for granted. Real Mazon failed yet again because logistics such as computers, hard-disks and multiple counters were missing. There are terms and conditions that the agency had to fulfil while undertaking the process of fitment. Why was the agency not tested for its manpower and expertise before they could start the process?
Discussing modalities at this juncture shows that authorities haven’t done their homework. Debating over taking up work of Quepem division at Arlem or arguing over pandal, drinking water and toilet arrangements speak of the haphazard ways that this issue is being handled. If the tender conditions mandate the Transport Department to provide these logistics, the agency cannot be held responsible now.
The Transport Department must constitute a committee of RTO officers to go into the operational issues before giving a green signal to the agency. People shouldn’t be made to pay for failures of authorities or the agency in question.
