Number plate change system hits glitches

Hyderabad: It seems that nearly 75 lakh vehicle users in ten districts of Telangana have to wait for some more time before they get TS registration for their vehicles instead of the existing AP ones.

• Registration code changing process going on at snail’s pace
• Guidelines not issued even 45 days after release of GO
• Election Commission says no violation of Model Code of Conduct

Though the TRS government is eagerly pushing forward the process to change registration codes (from AP to TS) since it came to power in June 2014, the official machinery seems to be in no hurry.

After overcoming legal hurdles that affected government plans for well over a year, Sunil Sharma, the Principal Secretary, Transport department, issued a GO No 44 in this regard on October 15.

It was stated that four-month time would be given to vehicle users to change their existing AP code to TS. However, the process has not moved a single step forward in the last 45 days. No guidelines have been issued till date.

Although the GO was out in the open, inordinate delay in framing guidelines means that all registration transactions relating to transfer of ownership or change of address are being done like in the past. Second and third owners are getting new smart cards but with the same old AP registration code.

When contacted, Transport department authorities had an interesting answer. The non-availability of Transport Commissioner for nearly four weeks, owing to election duties in Bihar, affected the whole schedule, they said.

The department would prepare guidelines, which would be submitted to the Transport Minister, who in turn, would forward it to the Chief Minister for his consent. Then a circular would be issued by the government for the change of registration codes to TS within four months, they said.

Meanwhile, officials in Transport Minister Mahender Reddy’s peshi pointed out that they were waiting for the finalisation of guidelines. The Transport Commissioner resumed duty on November 26 and he is expected to look into this issue on priority basis.

However, they sounded like it might take more time due to MLC elections in Telangana. This process involved renaming of registration code for nearly 75 lakh vehicles in ten districts, they stressed.

However, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal observed that this did not violate Model Code of Conduct for elections. The decision pertaining to change of registration codes was part of general administration and hence there would be no objections, he pointed out.

According to the Transport officials, the State capital, comprising Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, accounts for bulk of the nearly 75 lakh vehicles (including commercial ones) in ten districts of Telangana.

No processing or extra fee would be charged from the existing vehicle users. They just need to change to TS code apart from replacing the old district code with the new one on their number plates.

New Registration Code

Adilabad TS-1

Karimnagar TS-2

Warangal TS-3

Khammam TS-4

Nalgonda TS-5

Mahabubnagar TS-6

Rangareddy TS-7,8

Medak TS-15

Nizamabad TS-16

Hyderabad TS-9 to 14

By Mahesh Avadhutha