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What happens when Telangana is born?
Highlights
What Happens When T is Born?, Decision on Telangana, Smooth Run for the RTA. The authorities wasted more than 7 years since the SC order. Can’t they wait until a final decision on Telangana? Anyway it’s not a smooth run for the RTA
The authorities wasted more than 7 years since the SC order. Can’t they wait until a final decision on Telangana? Anyway it’s not a smooth run for the RTA
High Security Number Plates (HSNP) is vital for security, feel the court and the law-makers. On December 11, the Andhra Pradesh government started implementing the drive after much delay. The project was supposed to be implemented from 2005, but there was no development in sight. In 2011, the Supreme Court took strong exception against the failure of states like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in implementing HSNP.
Now with a deadline of only two years and nearly 70.70 lakh vehicles to which the HSNPs have to be installed, the officials have a daunting task of installing about 11,600 number plates every day. However, APSRTC MD Purnachander Rao and the RTA officials are confident of sticking to the deadline. Assuming that the project is implemented smoothly, the public still have a reason to be worried about. If the Telangana state comes into existence, should they re-register their licence plates?
From December 11, all the Road Transport Authority (RTA) offices in the city have been chock-a-block with vehicles queuing up to install High Security Number Plates (HSNP). Though it was mandated in 2005, the state government mulled over the implementation of number plates, and it finally became operational from December 11.
For all the new vehicles, the owners have to install HSNPs within 90 days from the date of purchase. For old vehicles, there is a period of two years for the number plates to be changed. G Anantha Ramu, transport commissioner, said that the number plates were very difficult to replicate, forge or steal and could not be transferred.
According to statistics available with the RTA, there are 60.70 lakh vehicles in the city and an estimated 50,000 new vehicles are added every month. Rough estimates put the figures of new vehicles between 10 and 12 lakh, over a period of two years. So HSNP has to be installed in a total of 70.70 lakh vehicles in two years.
But the problem lies here: Excluding all the holidays, there are roughly 600 days left to install HSNP for these vehicles. That means 11,600 HSNPs should be installed per day, to meet the deadline. There are 10 RTA offices in the city that averages just over 1,000 installations every day. However, initial reports with the RTA offices suggest that not more than 200 HSNPs are installed everyday at each office. Going by the speed of the installations, officials with the RTA have to literally perform magic to meet the deadline.
The cost of installation of HSNPs are also raising serious concerns. In Andhra Pradesh, for two wheelers (bike, scooter) it’s Rs 245, for three wheelers (auto) it’s Rs 282, for four wheelers (passenger cars) it’s Rs 620 and for heavy commercial vehicle it’s Rs 650. Compare this to the price in Delhi where it’s Rs 61.90 for two and three wheelers and Rs 219.90 for cars, light and heavy vehicles.
Currently, there is only one agency which is preparing the plates and installing to the vehicles, under the supervision of RTA officials.
Speaking to Hyderabad Hans, Purnachander Rao, MD, APSRTC, said, “We are supervising the work and the RTA is monitoring the installation of HSNP. Our job is to make sure that the number plates are available at RTA offices. We have more than 20 embossing centres and we will give this job to them. As the project gathers steam, we will monitor and make timely changes to meet the deadline. It may not be difficult to meet the deadline as there will be 123 centres where the RTA would organise the drive. At the moment, only two centres are functional. If one goes by statistics, even if each centre fixes 300 plates per day, meeting the deadline should not be difficult. In case there is a demand-supply problem, we will increase the embossing centres.”
Speaking to Hyderabad Hans, P Venkateswarlu, assistant transport commissioner, said, “The High Security Number Plates (HSNP) are manufactured using advanced technology. It can prevent vehicle theft, fake registration, use of fake numbers, illegal sale and tax evasion. We have 123 centres coming up and all are authorised. We are also mulling over an idea of delegating HSNPs to new car dealer showrooms and authorised workshops so they can install the plates before delivering the cars to the customers.
“We have started installing HSNPs with new vehicles at the central office. In a week, the installation will be operational at Kukatpally and other centres,” said Prasad Rao, joint commissioner, IT Enforcement and Road Safety.
However, there is one question in everyone’s mind, with the bifurcation imminent, what is the need to rush through the implementation of HSNPs? As of now the new vehicles are given AP registration numbers, which is bound to change after the bifurcation.
Curious case of HSNP
On June 1, 2005, the Government of India had amended Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, mandating introduction of new tamper proof High Security Number Plates (HSNP). All new motorised road vehicles that came into the market after that needed to adhere to the new plates, while existing vehicles had been given two years to comply. The features include number plates having a patented chromium hologram, a laser numbering containing the alpha-numeric identification of both the testing agency and manufacturers and a retro-reflective film bearing a verification inscription "India" at a 45-degree inclination. The characters are embossed on the plate for better visibility. The letters "IND" would be printed in a light shade of blue on the observers left side under the hologram.
Why HSNPOver 4500 cars were stolen in Delhi last year, which means that about 13 cars were stolen every day in 2012
The Supreme Court has mandated HSNP to curb down the theft cases. The Technology of HSNP is that the snap lock on number lock is unbreakable. Even, if the snap lock is broken - then it will almost be impossible to put back the number plate
Why High Security Number Plates? Do I need them? Is there any benefit?
Answer is Yes – HSNPs are meant to curb car thefts. As of now, it’s pretty easy to change the number plate of the car by anti-social elements. But, when these plates come into existence, it will be almost impossible to change the number plate.
The major benefit is hence - these high security plates will end up identifying the stolen cars - as in the absence of change of registration plate, it would be difficult for running a stolen car. Hence, a slight inconvenience as seen at the face, will lead in increased safety and security of the vehicle.
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