No HSRP, Pay Heavy Fine: Maharashtra Crackdown Starts Feb 18
**No HSRP, Pay Heavy Fine: Maharashtra Crackdown Starts Feb 18**
Transport department warns fines will start after final deadline lapses; compliance remains low across the state.
The Maharashtra transport department will begin strict enforcement against vehicles without High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) from February 18, Transport Commissioner has said. The move comes more than a month after the final installation deadline of December 31, 2025, with officials indicating that no further extensions will be granted.
HSRPs, which are tamper-proof number plates aimed at improving vehicle security and tracking, are mandatory for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. Despite multiple deadline extensions since the rule was first announced in December 2024, compliance has remained poor in several cities, including Pune.
According to officials, enforcement will now begin as authorities believe voluntary compliance has not worked. “Once this window closes, enforcement will begin. Those who had booked appointments before the deadline must be given a fair chance, which is why we waited”.
Transport department sources said vehicle owners who booked appointments after the December 31 cut-off may face fines of Rs 1,000. Officials also noted that vehicles stopped for inspection will undergo broader document verification, not limited to HSRP compliance.
“Documents such as registration certificates, insurance, PUC, and driving licences will also be verified, and penalties will increase if any are missing,” an official said.
The scale of pending installations remains significant. Of the 24,28,589 vehicles requiring HSRPs, only 8,57,209 have been fitted so far. Sources added that over one crore vehicles across Maharashtra are still without the plates.
Officials have also flagged operational challenges at fitment centres, with many vehicle owners failing to appear on scheduled appointment dates and instead arriving randomly, often near closing hours, demanding immediate installation.
The transport department has urged vehicle owners to complete the process promptly before enforcement begins, warning that the crackdown will be statewide and penalties will be imposed without further relaxation.
