Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Sep 17: The deadline for installing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on vehicles expired on Sunday. However, the transport department has instructed traffic police not to take action until September 18. This allows those who have not yet registered for HSRP to do so by this date.

A petition regarding the HSRP registration plates will be taken up for inquiry in the high court on September 18. Until then, transport department commissioner A M Yogish has directed the police not to penalize motorists who have yet to comply.

Earlier, the transport department had announced that fines would be imposed on non-compliant motorists starting Monday. The Karnataka traffic police and RTO had also stated that penalties would be enforced from September 16.

Nearly 1.5 crore vehicles have not yet installed HSRP. Sources from the transport department mentioned that an extension of the deadline requires approval from the transport minister.

Officials stated that many vehicle owners apply for new number plates but do not get them installed by the vehicle sellers, leading to hundreds of number plates lying with dealers. The HSRP process is only complete after the number plate is installed.

A notification mandating HSRP number plates for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, was issued in August 2023. Initially, the deadline was set for November 17, 2023, but it was extended three times due to the slow pace of installation. According to the Karnataka state transport department, only 26% of the two crore vehicles in the state currently have HSRP number plates.