Over one million vehicles manufactured after April 1, 2019, are still running on Maharashtra roads without the mandatory High Security Registration Plate (HSRP), exposing vehicle owners to potential penalties and highlighting lapses by dealers and the transport department.
HSRP plates were made compulsory in 2019 to prevent misuse of vehicle registration numbers and improve traceability. However, many dealers failed to follow the rule initially and issued vehicles with old-style plates.
The issue has resurfaced ahead of the June 30 deadline for mandatory HSRP installation on all vehicles — including those registered before 2019. Vehicle owners now face long delays, as a limited number of fitment centres are unable to meet the surge in demand. In Nagpur alone, only 1 lakh of 22 lakh vehicles have received HSRP plates so far.
Adding to the backlog, over 20,000 new vehicles in Nagpur sold after 2019 were also delivered without HSRP plates due to dealer negligence. Vehicle owners are now left chasing RTOs and dealers for compliance.
“I bought my car in April 2019 and had no idea the plate wasn’t compliant. Now I’m waiting months just for an appointment,” said a frustrated vehicle owner.
Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said action would be taken against non-compliant dealers. “Dealers were responsible for HSRP installation from April 2019. Ignoring this mandate is unacceptable,” he said.
With the deadline approaching, the government faces increasing pressure to expand fitment capacity and enforce dealer accountability.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com