In the event of ongoing National Road Safety Month, Dr. Kamal Soi, Member – National Road Safety Council and a founder member of Raahat (The Safe Community Foundation) would like to highlight an important issue which regarding the road safety of commuters, security of citizens and National Safety of the Country. This is concerning the implementation of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in the State of Maharashtra. Its implementation is mandatory in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines, amended Rule 50 of the CMVR and Notifications/ Statutory Orders issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Government of India, in March 2001, issued a notification under the provisions of section 41(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act. 1988, introducing a new Scheme regulating issuance and affixation of High Security Registration Plates. With the intervention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, several State Governments initiated this scheme in their respective states in as early as 2011. However, few States including the State of Maharashtra could not implement it in their State despite repeated directions by the Apex Court. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued Gazette Notification and S.O. in December 2018, thereby mandating the affixation of HSRP though Vehicle Manufacturers (OEMs) on all vehicles sold on or after 1^st April 2019. PAN India implementation of HSRP Scheme on all new vehicles was thus rolled out and has been implementing smoothly since then. For the fulfilment of Scheme in true letter and Spirit, the old vehicles i.e. registered prior to the 1^st April 2019 also need to be affixed with the HSRP.

Although, most of the States, over the period, have commenced implementation of HSRP on the old vehicles in their respective states. However, there are few States, including the State of Maharashtra, which are yet to finalise and commence it.

Over 2.0 Crore old vehicles pending for affixation with HSRP in the State

The State Government of Maharashtra, which is known for its dynamic and progressive attitude towards quick decision making, implementation and enforcement of activities for road safety, digitalization of Transport Related services etc., has till now failed in the implementation of HSRP scheme. Despite being the Financial Capital of the Country, the state has over 2.0 crores vehicles registered prior to 1^st April 2019, which are pending for affixation with the HSRP.

It is not that the State Government has not tried to implement the HSRP scheme in the state. The State Government has floated the tender for the selection of HSRP suppliers on several occasions in the past.  However, each time it failed to succeed through. Infact, one such tender “RFP for Manufacture, Supply and Fitment of HSRP for the motor vehicles manufactured prior to 1^st April 2019 on BOO Model in Two Zones in the State of Maharashtra” published on the 28^th of August 2023 by the State Government is still live. The last date for bid submission has been extended several times in the last 5 months, the last one being on the 12^th of February 2024. It has, once again, further been extended. We wish to highlight that no State Government in the Country has been able to implement the HSRP scheme by selecting a supplier through the tender process in the last 8-9 years.

While acknowledging the same issue by the MoRTH, the Gazette Notification and the S.O. stated above, provided an option for the implementing of HSRP scheme on Old vehicles through Vehicle Manufacturers (OEMs), just like they have been implementing for new vehicles. Many States/UTs like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, NCT of Delhi and latest being the State of Karnataka have adopted the OEM route to implement the scheme on the old vehicles in their respective territories. These States and UTs have preferred OEM route to implement the HSRP scheme on old vehicles owing to the smooth and speedy implementation through the wide spread dealer network of the OEMs, implementation via multiple OEM authorised HSRP suppliers rather than one single supplier selected through the tender process.

Benefits of adopting OEM channel for implementation of HSRP Scheme.

• The HSRP on old/ existing vehicles can be affixed by the authorised automobile dealers of the OEMs (vehicle manufacturers). Vehicle owners are free to choose any authorised dealer of their brand of vehicle.
• Wide dealer network of the OEM’s in the State helps in the smooth and speedy implementation.
• HSRP manufacturers authorised by the vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) are only permitted to supply HSRPs to the authorised dealers of the OEMs. 
• One unified web portal just like Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) – www.siam.in or any other similar platform can be launched for vehicle owners to place orders for their HSRP irrespective of brands/ make of vehicles.
• Flexibility for vehicle owners to order HSRP, choose dealer location, select date and time for affixation as per their convenience.
• Affixation of the HSRP to be a “Cash Less transaction” wherein the requisite fee is to be paid online Only. 
• Optional facility of affixation of HSRP at vehicle owner’s residence or at their place of work can also be provided.

Appeal to the State Government of Maharashtra

Implementation of HSRP scheme has a direct correlation to the National Security with an objective of safety and security of vehicles and to curb vehicle related criminal activities. The state of Maharashtra has witnessed many attacks in the past from the terrorist and other anti-national elements, it will not be wise to wait for another one to happen. It is therefore our utmost request to the State Government of Maharashtra to immediately adopt the OEM channel to implement the HSRP scheme on old vehicles in the state.  

In the event of ongoing National Road Safety Month, Dr. Kamal Soi, Member – National Road Safety Council and a founder member of Raahat (The Safe Community Foundation) would like to highlight an important issue which regarding the road safety of commuters, security of citizens and National Safety of the Country. This is concerning the implementation of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in the State of Maharashtra. Its implementation is mandatory in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines, amended Rule 50 of the CMVR and Notifications/ Statutory Orders issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Government of India, in March 2001, issued a notification under the provisions of section 41(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act. 1988, introducing a new Scheme regulating issuance and affixation of High Security Registration Plates. With the intervention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, several State Governments initiated this scheme in their respective states in as early as 2011. However, few States including the State of Maharashtra could not implement it in their State despite repeated directions by the Apex Court. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued Gazette Notification and S.O. in December 2018, thereby mandating the affixation of HSRP though Vehicle Manufacturers (OEMs) on all vehicles sold on or after 1^st April 2019. PAN India implementation of HSRP Scheme on all new vehicles was thus rolled out and has been implementing smoothly since then. For the fulfilment of Scheme in true letter and Spirit, the old vehicles i.e. registered prior to the 1^st April 2019 also need to be affixed with the HSRP.

Although, most of the States, over the period, have commenced implementation of HSRP on the old vehicles in their respective states. However, there are few States, including the State of Maharashtra, which are yet to finalise and commence it.

Over 2.0 Crore old vehicles pending for affixation with HSRP in the State

The State Government of Maharashtra, which is known for its dynamic and progressive attitude towards quick decision making, implementation and enforcement of activities for road safety, digitalization of Transport Related services etc., has till now failed in the implementation of HSRP scheme. Despite being the Financial Capital of the Country, the state has over 2.0 crores vehicles registered prior to 1^st April 2019, which are pending for affixation with the HSRP.

It is not that the State Government has not tried to implement the HSRP scheme in the state. The State Government has floated the tender for the selection of HSRP suppliers on several occasions in the past.  However, each time it failed to succeed through. Infact, one such tender “RFP for Manufacture, Supply and Fitment of HSRP for the motor vehicles manufactured prior to 1^st April 2019 on BOO Model in Two Zones in the State of Maharashtra” published on the 28^th of August 2023 by the State Government is still live. The last date for bid submission has been extended several times in the last 5 months, the last one being on the 12^th of February 2024. It has, once again, further been extended. We wish to highlight that no State Government in the Country has been able to implement the HSRP scheme by selecting a supplier through the tender process in the last 8-9 years.

While acknowledging the same issue by the MoRTH, the Gazette Notification and the S.O. stated above, provided an option for the implementing of HSRP scheme on Old vehicles through Vehicle Manufacturers (OEMs), just like they have been implementing for new vehicles. Many States/UTs like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, NCT of Delhi and latest being the State of Karnataka have adopted the OEM route to implement the scheme on the old vehicles in their respective territories. These States and UTs have preferred OEM route to implement the HSRP scheme on old vehicles owing to the smooth and speedy implementation through the wide spread dealer network of the OEMs, implementation via multiple OEM authorised HSRP suppliers rather than one single supplier selected through the tender process.

Benefits of adopting OEM channel for implementation of HSRP Scheme.

• The HSRP on old/ existing vehicles can be affixed by the authorised automobile dealers of the OEMs (vehicle manufacturers). Vehicle owners are free to choose any authorised dealer of their brand of vehicle.
• Wide dealer network of the OEM’s in the State helps in the smooth and speedy implementation.
• HSRP manufacturers authorised by the vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) are only permitted to supply HSRPs to the authorised dealers of the OEMs. 
• One unified web portal just like Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) – www.siam.in or any other similar platform can be launched for vehicle owners to place orders for their HSRP irrespective of brands/ make of vehicles.
• Flexibility for vehicle owners to order HSRP, choose dealer location, select date and time for affixation as per their convenience.
• Affixation of the HSRP to be a “Cash Less transaction” wherein the requisite fee is to be paid online Only. 
• Optional facility of affixation of HSRP at vehicle owner’s residence or at their place of work can also be provided.

Appeal to the State Government of Maharashtra

Implementation of HSRP scheme has a direct correlation to the National Security with an objective of safety and security of vehicles and to curb vehicle related criminal activities. The state of Maharashtra has witnessed many attacks in the past from the terrorist and other anti-national elements, it will not be wise to wait for another one to happen. It is therefore our utmost request to the State Government of Maharashtra to immediately adopt the OEM channel to implement the HSRP scheme on old vehicles in the state.