THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
As Goa moves towards technology-driven traffic enforcement, vehicle owners with registrations issued before April 1, 2019 are being urged to install High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs).
While all vehicles purchased on or after April 1, 2019 are fitted with HSRPs before leaving the showroom, a significant number of older vehicles are yet to comply with the mandatory requirement despite the program having been in place for several years.
Government sources stated that under the existing system, every new vehicle sold after April 1, 2019 is issued HSRP before delivery and as such, these are already HSRP-compliant.
However, vehicles registered before April 1, 2019 are categorised as “old vehicles,” and owners are required to get it fitted separately through authorised fitment centres. For now, one has to get the appointment through the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) portal.
"The process requires vehicle owners to enter their vehicle details, select the nearest authorised fitment centre, get an appointment date and slot for installation, and make the payment. Once the booking is confirmed, the HSRP is manufactured and dispatched to the selected dealer for installation,” the source revealed, adding that appointments are generally available within a month.
The department had launched the HSRP program in 2019 after awarding the implementation contract to Real Mazon India Ltd for five years from 2019-2023. Dedicated HSRP counters were opened at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), while fitment centres were set up across several talukas to facilitate installation. The contract ended in October 2023 amid several yet to comply despite awareness campaigns.
Meanwhile, the State has clarified that while HSRP is mandatory, exemptions may be considered only in exceptional cases where the original vehicle manufacturer or its authorised dealer is no longer operational or does not have a presence in Goa. Such requests will be examined individually before a decision is taken.
