Amravati: 919 vehicles fined Rs 87,000 for not fitting HSRP plates
RTO's special drive checked 2,690 vehicles in Amravati, penalising 919 for lacking high security registration plates
Despite high security registration plates, or HSRP, being mandatory, many vehicle owners were not taking the rule seriously. In response, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has stepped up action in Amravati. Under a special checking drive, 2,690 vehicles have been checked so far, of which 919 vehicle owners were penalised for not having HSRP, and a total of Rs 87,000 was collected in fines.
The government had earlier extended the deadline for fitting HSRP on old vehicles about five times. But during checks it was found that even after the deadline expired, many vehicle owners had not fitted the new number plates. This led the RTO to tighten its campaign against rule breakers.
Deputy Regional Transport Officer Nandkishor Kale said six flying squads are continuously checking vehicles in the city and district, and rule breakers are being penalised immediately through e-challans. He said Rs 87,000 has been collected in fines from vehicle owners so far.
The RTO has appealed to vehicle owners to fit HSRP as soon as possible and follow the rule. It has also made clear that the special checking drive will be carried out more strictly going forward.
Direct penal action against vehicles without HSRP began in Amravati district from July 1. There are about 3.84 lakh vehicles in the district registered before April 1, 2019 that have not yet had HSRP plates fitted. All these vehicles are on the radar of the RTO and traffic police.
Fitting HSRP number plates has been made mandatory on a total of 7.5 lakh vehicles in the district. Vehicles found without this number plate are being fined Rs 1,000. Besides paying the fine, until a vehicle has an HSRP plate fitted, essential RTO office work such as address change, licence renewal and vehicle transfer has been completely blocked.
Earlier, considerable negligence had been observed on the part of citizens in this matter. Many vehicle owners completed online registration but did not get the number plate fitted even after it arrived at the official centre. As a result, many HSRP plates are still lying at official centres for 15 days or more even today. To avoid inconveniencing vehicle owners, the transport department had extended the HSRP deadline five times. Now that the deadline has ended, the rule is being strictly enforced and penal action has also been stepped up.
