Delhi: High-security plate drive put on hold after glitches, delay fuel resentment

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s transport minister Kailash Gahlot instructed the transport department on Tuesday to delay the enforcement drive against vehicles that don’t have high security registration plates (HSRP) or colour-coded fuel stickers till further orders. The minister has also instructed people not to seek new appointment for HSRP fitment until a ‘proper’ system is in place. Those who have already booked slots, however, will get their plates and stickers.

The transport department had publicised an enforcement drive on September 22, forcing vehicle owners to scurry to get the HSRP and fuel stickers affixed. But they faced numerous problems, from technical glitches on the booking website, www.bookmyhsrp.com, and finding that their HSRP and sticker hadn’t arrived after reaching the designated vehicle dealership on the allotted date and time to lack of information on the fate of their requirements.
TOI has highlighted the woes of vehicles owners for the last 15 days, and with the complaints growing by the day, Gahlot convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday. It was attended by representatives of transport department, National Informatics Centre, original equipment manufacturers, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and HSRP manufacturers, including Rosmerta Safety Systems Private Limited.
In a statement later, the transport minister’s office said that Gahlot discussed the problems of the vehicle owners and instructed OEMs to creating a system to address these grievances.
More than the glitches and delay in getting HSRP and fuel stickers, it was the lack of information and response from both vehicle dealerships and HSRP manufacturers that car owners were most bitter about. Many vented their ire on social media, exasperated by the futility of calling the helpline number provided on the booking website.
After the meeting, Gahlot said, “Our objective is public convenience. It was wrongly interpreted that we were immediately enforcing the HSRP rule, creating panic among vehicle owners. We have now asked dealers and licence plate manufacturers not to take further appointments without a proper system in place. Plus, we are clear on giving car owners sufficient time to get the HSRP and fuel stickers fixed before enforcing the rules.”
To avoid the trouble of visiting a vehicle dealership, the government is now considering service at the car owners’ doorsteps as well as the creation of a mobile app to ease the process.
A spokesperson of Rosmerta said, “As instructed by the honourable minister, we are setting up a system to address the grievances of vehicle owners. We won’t accept new appointments for HSRP fitment till further notice, though those who have booked the plates till Tuesday will get them in the next few days.”