Failure to comply will attract strict action
PANAJI
With only partial compliance by vehicle owners to the otherwise mandatory High Security Registration Plates (HSRP), the Directorate of Transport has warned of strict action including penalties as per the Central Motor Vehicles Rules for non-compliance.
In a public notice published on Saturday, Director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek stated that during field inspections, the RTO officials found that several vehicle owners have not yet complied with this requirement. Therefore, they are directed to ensure HSRP fitment at the earliest with flexibility to get it done from any registered dealer.
“To facilitate this process, the department has authorized vehicle dealers to undertake the affixation of HSRP. Orders for HSRP can be placed through the official portal of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers at www.siam.in. Failure to comply with this directive shall attract strict action, including penalties as prescribed under the applicable provisions of law,” the notice states.
According to the transport department, over 40 percent vehicles are yet to comply with the directions. To expedite the installation of HSRP, the official said, they have now allowed vehicle owners to choose any registered dealers for the fitment. “The dealers are also instructed to install HSRP on all eligible vehicles, not just their company ones,” the official added.
The HSRP rule, which has been in effect for over five years, was enforced to prevent vehicle theft and promote standardization as a part of the pan-India drive.
In 2023, The Transport Department acknowledged the violation by numerous vehicle owners and stated that they are addressing the issue gradually. Former director Rajan Satardekar had stated that their primary focus was on road safety and traffic discipline as the State was reeling under rising accidents and fatalities. “We have not ignored the strict implementation of HSRP. All issues are being addressed one by one,” he was quoted as saying, to The Goan.
The department also planned to revive the implementation process and re-launch drives to ensure all vehicles were equipped with the HSRP plates.
