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High Security Number Plates contractor faces the axe
Telangana Transport Department is mulling the termination of its contract with Link AutoTech Pvt Ltd., after being vexed with the poor quality of service provided for High-Security Number Plates (HSNPs). “It has been found that the number plates supplied by the contractor are of poor quality, are not stiff and firm,
Telangana Transport Department is mulling the termination of its contract with Link AutoTech Pvt Ltd., after being vexed with the poor quality of service provided for High-Security Number Plates (HSNPs). “It has been found that the number plates supplied by the contractor are of poor quality, are not stiff and firm, and are susceptible to bending and damage,” said officials in the Hyderabad Road Transport Authority (RTA).
“Even while fitting the number plates, the contractor is proving to be a miser by fitting plates only with two screws and not with four screws of the rectangular plates,” a senior official in the RTA office said. After officials pointed out the shoddy job, representatives of the company visited the office of Hyderabad Joint Transport Commissioner (JTC) T Raghunath and promised to improve the quality of service.
”But the story remains the same even after several such visits to the JTC’s office,” an official informed. The issue has been taken to the notice of the government and the RTA is expecting action from the transport ministry soon. Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh RTA officials are facing the same problem from the contractor and are contemplating to scrap the agreement.
Lack of additional counters
Every day, hundreds of vehicle owners visit the RTA office in Somajiguda for replacing their number plates. However there is only one counter and the number of HSNPs provided per day has been much below the expectation of the RTA. A frequent complaint of vehicle owners has been that there is only one counter despite the rush.
The time factor has turned crucial because the Supreme Court has set December 2015 as the deadline to all states to replacing number plates with HSNPs. Apart from delay in providing the number plates, the contractor is sending vehicle owners back frequently, saying their number plate is not yet ready.
One annoyed vehicle owner suggested that the contractor can set up an Electronic Display Board (EDB) outside the counter and display the registration numbers for which the number plates are ready. The cost charged for two HSNP plates (one in the front-end and another at the rear0end of the vehicle) is Rs 245.
A vehicle owner said, “But for the security hologram with words IND. the value being provided by the contractor is almost nil. Plate-makers in nearby areas like Panjagutta charge only Rs 120 for the new number plates.”
By:C Ananda Kumar Reddy
