the goan I network
MAPUSA
Contrary to perception, just a few people approached the Mapusa RTO on Tuesday to seek an appointment to affix high-security registration plates (HSRP) to motor vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019.
On day one of the schedule, only 13 vehicle owners took an appointment to replace their old number plates with the new high-security number plates as directed by the State government.
Considering the sheer number of vehicles which will need replacement of number plates, there was a perception that there would be a rush from the first day.
“There has been hardly any response on the first day. But we expect the momentum to pick up as days go by,” said Rajesh Naik, Assistant Director of Transport, Mapusa.
Although the HSRP counter was opened on the second floor of the Mapusa RTO, there was no notice board to guide people to it.
Even the designated counter on the second floor did not exhibit a sign making it difficult for people to locate it.
The company official who was sitting behind the counter was struggling to fill in the data into the computer due to internet issues.
The printout-cum-receipt with the appointment date and time handed to the customers was so light that it was hardly visible.
Inquiries at the counter revealed that people who desire to fit the new HSRP have to first visit the RTO office for payment and seek an appointment.
After obtaining the appointment, the vehicle owner has to visit the contractor, M/s Real Mazon India Ltd’s office at Porvorim near the KTC bus depot at the appointed date and time to fix the HSRP.
The vehicle owner has to go with a copy of the RC book at both the places “ RTO office and at Porvorim to fix the number plate.
For two-wheelers, the rate to fit the HSRP has been fixed at Rs 155, three-wheeler Rs 203 and for light motor vehicles Rs 332.
The transport department had recently released a detailed schedule for vehicles to be fitted with the HSRP and vehicles of all series from 0001 to 1000 have to replace old number plates with HSRP from October 1 to October 31.
The transport department had made it mandatory for all types of vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019, to replace the existing
number plates with HSRP by August 2020.
