Pune: Too few authorised vendors, a chaotic rollout, a clunky online appointment system and steep pricing, state govt’s HSRP drive for vehicles registered before April 2019 has stumbled at every turn. Now, as Tuesday’s deadline looms, the scale of the lapse is stark — nearly 15 lakh vehicles in Pune and more than one crore across the state are still without High Security Registration Plates, laying bare a policy mired in confusion and delays.Vehicle owners without the new plates now risk a Rs 1,000 fine and may also be unable to complete several vehicle-related transactions at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). “While some vehicle owners delayed compliance, inadequate planning played a major role. Close to three crore vehicles required HSRPs, but govt appointed only three manufacturers for the entire state. A broader vendor base could have ensured faster and more efficient implementation. The strategy following the initial notification in Dec 2024 exposed several gaps,” a transport department official told TOI.Bibvewadi resident Chandrakant Mane, who got an HSRP for his two-wheeler last year, said securing an appointment was a struggle. “The website was confusing from the start. People in rural and semi-urban areas were at a disadvantage, as the process relied heavily on online access and digital payments. Initially, there were very few fitment centres, which made things worse. Proper groundwork should have been completed before launching the initiative,” he said.In Pune, Rosemerta Safety Systems Limited is responsible for supplying and fitting HSRPs. Of the 24.28 lakh vehicles under the Pune RTO’s jurisdiction that requireed HSRPs, only 9.44 lakh had been fitted till Sunday. Appointments had been booked for 11.47 lakh vehicles. The city initially had just 76 fitment centres, which were increased to 222 after repeated complaints.Repeated deadline extensions further weakened compliance. “The process in the beginning was exhausting and then govt extended the deadline five times despite warning of penalties. That made many people feel the authorities weren’t serious. After going through the effort early, it felt unnecessary in hindsight,” Kalyaninagar resident Anoj Chaudhary said.The cost of the new plates in the state has also been a point of contention. HSRPs are priced at Rs 531 for two-wheelers, Rs 590 for three-wheelers and Rs 879 for four-wheelers, with additional charges for home fitment. In comparison, neighbouring states charge significantly lower rates — around Rs 160 for two-wheelers and Rs 200 for cars in Gujarat, and Rs 380 and Rs 470, respectively, in Goa. Officials said the price disparity led many vehicle owners to opt for illegal duplicate plates.Vehicle owners said govt should simplify the process by organising special HSRP camps across localities, expanding offline booking options and making on-the-spot fitment available. “The entire system needs to be more accessible and citizen-friendly,” Katraj resident Arvind Nagarkar said.
