The Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department’s decision to mandate High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) for all vehicles by April 2025 has left small vendors from city, including number plate manufacturers and radium sticker workers, struggling for survival.
While the move is intended to enhance security and curb vehicle-related thefts, it has severely impacted local businesses that have long been involved in manufacturing and installing traditional number plates. With no alternative work opportunities, many vendors now face an uncertain future.
For years, small workshops and roadside vendors have sustained their families by producing number plates and selling vehicle accessories. Many invested in specialized equipment and took loans to expand their businesses. However, with the new regulation in place, their operations have come to a standstill, pushing them toward financial distress.
Local shop owners have voiced concerns over the sudden shift, highlighting that the contracts for HSRP plates have been awarded to larger companies, leaving small vendors with no role in the implementation process. Business owners argue that the government should have introduced a system that allows local manufacturers to participate rather than eliminating their livelihood entirely.
A senior transport official stated that the decision was taken at the state level, leaving little scope for modifications. Meanwhile, affected vendors continue to urge the government for intervention, seeking either an opportunity to be included in the HSRP production process or alternative livelihood support.
As the April 2025 deadline approaches, the crisis faced by these small businesses underscores the broader impact of policy changes on local employment and small-scale entrepreneurship.
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