The fixing of high-security registration plates (HSRPs) in all classes of motor vehicles is likely to get delayed by a few days going by the feedback from dealers and enforcement agencies in the city.
The Union government had made it mandatory that all classes of motor vehicles hitting the road and being registered in the State from April 1 should be fitted with tamper-proof HSRPs that have a host of inbuilt security features.
Representatives of a car dealer said preparatory works were progressing to install HSRPs. “We are awaiting feedback from the company on how to implement the directive. It may happen next week,” they said.
Senior officials of another dealer said they had learnt that the purchase of HSRPs had to be done from a government-approved agency. “We have also started training our staff on how to install the new plate with security features,” they added.
However, the dealers in the city said there was no clarity on the exact date from which the new plates should be fitted in vehicles. The cars that rolled out from the showrooms till Thursday were fitted with the old plates, they said.
Joji P. Jose, Regional Transport Officer, Ernakulam, said it was the responsibility of the dealers to ensure that the vehicles registered from April 1 were fitted with HSRPs. “However, we have learnt that they lacked clarity on the implementation process,” he added.
As per the rules prescribed by the Centre, automobile manufacturers will provide the “security licence plate, including the third registration mark”, to their approved dealers, who will place a mark of registration on such plates and affix them on all new vehicles. The automobile manufacturer has been asked to ensure that the requisite infrastructure is available with dealers.
HSRPs, which come with a 15-year guarantee, will have inbuilt security features such as a self-destructive sticker with the engine and chassis numbers of the vehicle. The plates will be fitted on the front and rear of the vehicles and windscreens will have a number plate tag with hologram.
A chromium-based hologram will be applied by hot-stamping on the top left corner of the number plates, both at the front and back. A permanent identification number with a minimum of 10 digits will be laser-branded into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left of the registration plate.
