No HSRP? Pay up to 1k fine from early Oct
新闻详情:最后更新时间: 2024-09-19 20:48:40
Bengaluru: Starting early October, vehicle owners in Karnataka who have not installed High-Security Registration Plates ( HSRP ) are likely to face penalties ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy told TOI Thursday that the authorities will start enforcement in about 15 days from now. Of the over 2 crore old vehicles in the state, only 53 lakh have been fitted with HSRP. In August 2023, the transport department issued a notification making the installation of HSRP mandatory for vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019. The department had initially set a three-month deadline. However, due to poor response from vehicle owners and factors such as Lok Sabha elections, the department extended the deadline multiple times. The issue of HSRP reached the Karnataka high court. The last deadline for replacing old number plates with HSRP was September 15. "While adjourning the case for hearing recently, the HC did not give any direction on further extending the deadline for the installation of HSRP. Instead of immediately imposing a penalty, the department would give 15 days' time for the motorists to follow the rule; thereafter, the enforcement activities will start (in early October)," said minister Reddy. A majority of the 53 lakh vehicle owners who have followed the rule are in Bengaluru. The department has been receiving lukewarm support for the mandatory installation of HSRP in tier II cities and rural areas. An official of the department said, "Notification for mandatory installation of HSRP was introduced in August 2023. Thereafter, multiple extensions have been given for the fixation of new number plates. Motorists have been given enough time to follow the rules." On the other hand, owners of public service vehicles such as buses, school vans, taxi operators, trucks, and others have taken strong objection to the mandatory installation of Vehicle Tracking Devices and Panic buttons. They say the transport department's stand on not issuing fitness certificates for vehicles without such devices is arbitrary. They say the installation of such devices is a huge burden on owners as they end up paying Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 for the devices. The department had earlier set September 10 as the deadline for the installation of devices. The Karnataka State Travel Operators Association demanded six more months to comply with the rules. The association alleged that the lack of supply of devices in the market, higher costs, and other concerns have remained a problem for owners. An official of the department maintained that truck owners with national permits and buses operated by Road Transport Corporation such as BMTC and KSRTC will have more time to install the devices. "The database of these vehicles is not updated with the Vahan portal. For the rest of the public service vehicles, fitness certificates will be issued only after verifying that they are fitted with VLT and panic button devices," an official of the department said. MSID:: 113497797 413 |