Pune: Overcharging, Long Travel, No Help: Rural Drivers Suffer Ahead Of HSRP Deadline In Maharashtra
Maharashtra Government Mandates High-Security Registration Plates For Old Vehicles; Advises Online Payment Only Via Official Website
As the deadline for installing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) approaches, vehicle owners across Maharashtra—especially in rural areas—are facing serious issues, including overcharging, lack of awareness, and insufficient fitment centres. Despite these growing complaints, transport companies and the transport department appear indifferent.
Deadline Set for June 30
The Maharashtra transport department has mandated that all vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, must have HSRP plates installed by June 30, 2025. Over one crore vehicles in the state are expected to comply with this rule.
To handle the load, the state has been divided into three zones, each assigned to a different company. Zone 1 includes 12 RTOs, Zone 2 has 16, and Zone 3 covers 27 RTOs. However, despite the planning, the number of operational fitment centres remains grossly inadequate.
Rural Citizens Overcharged and Inconvenienced
In rural parts of the state, two-wheeler owners are being charged up to ₹1,000 and car owners up to ₹2,000 for HSRP installation. Moreover, due to the limited number of fitment centres, residents are forced to travel 40 to 50 kilometers just to get their plates fitted.
Citizens unaware of the online application process often depend on agents, who charge between ₹100 to ₹200 or more. Additional amounts are also being extorted under the pretext of providing “brackets” for the plates. Despite these issues, companies have restricted most fitment centres to district headquarters, ignoring the need for local access at the taluka level.
Technical Glitches and Service Disruptions
In cities like Pune and elsewhere, people have reported several problems at fitment centres, including sudden closures, unavailability of plates on the promised date, and frequent website crashes during registration. This has led to widespread frustration.
With barely a fraction—estimated at just 10% of vehicles—fitted with HSRP so far, the state is far from meeting the June 30 deadline. Citizens are now left wondering who to turn to, as the government and contracted companies seem disengaged from on-ground realities.
