As HSRP deadline looms, owners of old vehicles face hardship

Bhatkal, Feb 10, 2024: As the deadline for obtaining the High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) draws near, vehicle owners, especially those with older vehicles from defunct companies, are grappling with confusion and hurdles.

The department had issued a notification in August 2023, making it mandatory to fit HSRPs on approximately two crore vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, with a deadline set for November 17, 2023. However, due to minimal compliance, the department extended the deadline to February 17, 2024.

Despite the extended deadline, many vehicle owners have yet to comply, and the cutoff date of February 17 is fast approaching. Failure to adhere to this will result in collaborative enforcement actions by traffic police and RTO officials, leading to fines. Motorists are expressing dissatisfaction and are petitioning for another year’s extension, despite the state transport department already granting two deadline extensions. It is certain that penalties will be imposed if the HSRP is not installed by February 17, prompting motorists to seek an additional year to comply.

Vehicles acquired post-April 2019 are equipped with the high-security number plates (HSRPs). With hundreds of thousands of vehicles still non-compliant and the state transport department failing to conduct widespread publicity and awareness campaigns regarding HSRP installation, sources within the transport department suggest that the government may have no choice but to extend the deadline once more.

How to Obtain HSRPs in Karnataka:

Visit the Karnataka transport department website at  https://transport.karnataka.gov.in or www.siam.in and fill the required information and make the online payment for the HSRP. The cost for a car’s HSRP ranges from Rs. 650 to Rs. 850, inclusive of taxes. For a two-wheeler, the cost is between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 after taxes, covering both number plates.