VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: With the State government making it mandatory to affix vehicles with High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) from October 1, stakeholders in the transportation sector as well as vehicle owners have raised various apprehensions.
For starters, they are concerned about the mechanisms, the authorities have undertaken to track HSRP-fitted vehicles and trace vehicles, which are lost or stolen.
The citizens are also left wondering whether the time frame allotted for vehicle registration numbers would be enough considering that several lakh vehicles including commercial are plying on the streets of Goa.
Tourist Taxi Union Leader Vinayak Nanoskar and Private Bus Association leader Sudip Tamhankar are amongst the many, who have sought clarity on the subject before its implementation.
“The Transport department has issued the public notice on fitting vehicles with HSRP but there is no disclosure made on how the system will work. What technology or set-up has been planned to ensure that HSRP-fitted vehicles, if stolen or go missing, are tracked? How will the system operate?” Nanoskar sought to know.
While extending his full support to the initiative, Nanoskar also demanded that the department and the agency selected to undertake the project, provide sufficient time and enough outlets to avoid any potential rush.
On the other hand, Tamhankar argued that the department did not take the stakeholders into confidence before finalising its decision. The bus owners association, he said, will also decide in its next meeting whether to support or oppose the implementation after a thorough scrutiny.
“No stakeholder was taken into confidence before the government decided to start the implementation. We will study the concept to be implemented in Goa, as well as other factors like the procedure for its implementation, how it has been functioning in other States and the rates, etc, after which, we will take a decision to support or oppose,” he said.
As per the public notice, in the case of commercial fitment of HSRP, it will be a precondition for payment of taxes, renewal of permits, renewal of fitness certificates and change in documents such as ownership, HPA endorsement, H P termination, etc.
The associations also recalled the major confusion created about a decade ago when the then government had directed upgrading the number plates to HSRP registration. But the contract to M/s Shimnit Utsch in 2010 was terminated after Tamhankar approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa citing irregularities in the contract process.
“We will study the concept so that we do not face a scam-like situation again,” Tamhankar added.
Some vehicle owners have also raised an alarm over the already HSRP fitted vehicles claiming these vehicles will have to pay double in view of the fresh implementation order. “Several vehicles had fitted their vehicles with HSRP years ago by paying exorbitant fees. They will have to pay again now. These vehicles should be exempted from paying double,” Piyush Chimulkar, owner of a luxury car and a two-wheeler, demanded.
Another motorist Pravin Parab has lamented about the limited time frame given to upgrade the number plates to HSRP stating office-goers like him will have to take leave from work.
“Since only one month is being given for each set of number plates for fitting HSRP in vehicles, the working people will be forced to take leave from work. Government is not giving enough time considering that there are 14 lakh vehicles registered and there will be rush at RTOs,” he said.
Herald contacted Assistant Transport Director, Prakash Azavedo, who said the government has taken a decision based on the ministry’s directions. “This is a central programme,” he commented while allaying fear on the rush at RTOs.
He stated that it is the discretion of the contractor Real Mazon India Limited and not the department, to set up outlets for fitting vehicles with HSRP.
“The vehicle owners will have to approach the respective RTOs at the allotted time period to carry out the process for upgrading the number plates to HSRP. The vendor (contractor) will depute its staff at each of these RTOs to help people with carrying out further process. Once the payment is made to the department, the vehicle owners will be given a tentative appointment when they can get their vehicles to fix HSRP through the contractor,” he explained, adding that it was for the agency to set up and/or increase outlets in order to avoid rush.
The State government on Monday issued a public notice stating that all vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019 must be fitted with HSRP only through the government-selected agency Real Mazon India Limited.
