Latest news with #HSRPs
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Masking the law: Gurugram cops use tapes and scratches to dodge e-challans
While Gurugram's traffic police cracks down on everyday commuters for missing or improper number plates, a disturbing trend is unfolding within the law enforcement ranks themselves. Several police officials have been spotted driving vehicles with partially covered number plates – often using tape, paper, or even scratches -- to avoid being caught by the city's network of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and red-light violation detection (RLVD) cameras. Bikes with obscured plates at Traffic tower near Galleria Market in Gurugram. (Parveen Kumar/HT) From the Gurugram Police Commissioner's office to the Traffic Tower in Sushant Lok and the Anti-Corruption Bureau office in Sector 47, vehicles parked at these locations routinely display tampered number plates. Over the past several weeks, HT made repeated visits to these premises and consistently found cars and bikes with masked, folded, or scratched plates, rendering them unreadable to surveillance cameras. Even government vehicles, including police patrol two-wheelers, were seen sporting similar modifications. On Tuesday evening, HT spotted two Haryana Police personnel driving a white Maruti Swift with a Rajasthan registration on MG Road. One of the characters on the rear plate was obscured by masking tape and paper. Some number plates were folded at one end, while others had critical digits scratched out, all in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to avoid triggering e-challans. This comes at a time when the Gurugram traffic police is aggressively penalising ordinary citizens for the very same violations. In June alone, Gurugram police issued 22,215 challans for faulty or missing High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP), collecting ₹2.05 crore in fines, official data showed. Of these, 14,761 were penalised specifically for not upgrading to HSRPs—mandatory plates that make vehicles traceable in the cameras. Yet, there is little evidence that similar zeal is being applied within the police department itself. Many officials appear to be using their position to evade detection—ironically, by undermining the very surveillance systems they are tasked with enforcing. Action if caught: DCP Rajesh Kumar Mohan, DCP (Traffic), said the department has issued clear orders to penalise anyone caught engaging in such violations, even cops. 'I've held meetings with zonal traffic officers and instructed them to impose fines and seize vehicles of officials found using obscured registration plates. Such cases must also be reported to higher authorities for departmental proceedings,' he said. Mohan called the practice 'a blatant violation' of the rules. 'HSRPs help us track criminal elements and enforce traffic rules through automatic challans. If the enforcers themselves flout the law, the system breaks down,' he added. The effectiveness of electronic traffic enforcement relies on a network of over 1,200 surveillance cameras across Gurugram, including 300 ANPR and 115 RLVD units. These are installed at key intersections and roads, with 13 locations. Once an offence is captured, the image is processed by an intelligent traffic management system, which reads the number plate. There, the registered vehicle owner's details are pulled from a national database, and an SMS alert is sent with the challan. But the catch is that this system depends entirely on clear, unobstructed views of vehicle number plates. 'Even if a single digit or letter is obscured the system flags the image as a 'broken plate', and the challan process stops,' said a senior Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) official. Police personnel stationed at the ANPR control room manually screen such images. If a plate is unreadable, the vehicle is excluded from the challan queue. 'Those images are rejected during scrutiny and never make it to the NIC database. As a result, no fine is issued,' the official confirmed. A growing culture of impunity Motorcycles with taped and impartial number plates at Commissionerate building near Sohna Chowk in Gurugram. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) Experts working on the city's surveillance network say this method of tampering has grown significantly in the past year. 'Initially, it was limited. But now, we're seeing it almost daily. The troubling part is that police officers are among the worst offenders. They know the system and its loopholes,' said a GMDA contractor associated with the traffic software. He said that enforcement remains largely manual for these cases. 'Unless an officer is stopped on the road and physically checked, they'll get away. And often, being in uniform gives them an easy pass.' What makes this more egregious is that while citizens face steep fines for minor non-compliances – as high as ₹10,000 –those meant to uphold the law appear to be manipulating the very rules they enforce. The absence of disciplinary action or internal accountability mechanisms has emboldened this behaviour, say traffic experts. 'This isn't a loophole, it's a misuse of institutional knowledge,' said an expert on traffic governance.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Confusion over HSRP enforcement leaves Hyderabad commuters frustrated
Motorists in Hyderabad are facing confusion over inconsistent enforcement of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) by traffic police, with many claiming they have been penalised despite receiving no clear instructions on how to comply with the mandate. Vehicle owners, particularly those with older registration numbers, have reported receiving challans ranging from ₹100 to ₹300 for what are being classified as 'irregular number plates'. What has sparked discontent is not the fine itself, but the lack of clarity on how to obtain HSRPs, especially for vehicles registered before the current system was introduced in 2019. Aditya Rao, a private employee working in Gachibowli, said he received a challan for an 'irregular number plate' for his two-wheeler in December 2024. 'The vehicle was a 2016 purchase. Back then we didn't have this system of getting your number plates from the showroom like it is now. I got it done in due time and honestly I wasn't aware of the violation until I was slapped with the challan,' he said. Other residents shared similar concerns. Arun Abraham, a resident of Sanathnagar, was issued a challan in June 2025 for his car, registered in 2014. 'The vehicle was registered before HSRPs became mandatory. There has been no official notification or instruction from the State government on how owners of older vehicles can make the switch,' he said. Jurisdictional overlaps are compounding the confusion. Residents say traffic police stations across different zones, Hyderabad and Cyberabad, appear to be enforcing the rule with varying interpretations. Arun noted that although he resides within Cyberabad limits, he was fined in the Hyderabad zone. 'I went to the Begumpet traffic police station to understand the reason. They acknowledged that they had been asked to issue challans but did not know how to facilitate the conversion to HSRP. They simply directed me to the RTO,' he said. This situation unfolds in the backdrop of a planned enforcement drive by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police in coordination with the Telangana Transport Department. The aim was to ensure compliance with HSRP requirements, mandated under the Motor Vehicles Act, as a safety and traceability measure. However, the lack of preparatory groundwork is now creating more chaos than compliance. HSRPs are designed to be tamper-proof and are linked to a centralised database. While their phased rollout has been underway across India, implementation in Telangana, particularly Hyderabad, has been uneven. The lack of a formal Government Order specifying how and when owners of older vehicles must switch to HSRPs has only added to the confusion. Many commuters see the ongoing enforcement as premature in the absence of such official clarity. Several vehicle owners who attempted to book appointments online reported technical issues. 'I am trying to get an appointment on but it keeps giving me an error asking for a 'correct registration number'. All details, including chassis and engine numbers, are being entered correctly, yet I keep getting these error messages,' said one user on Reddit. Another user wrote, 'Unable to apply for HSRP—facing the same error for Telangana. Tried contacting HSRP support but received no reply. All documents are within the validity period.'
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Delhi government rolls back fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles after public outrage
The fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles has been revoked amidst massive public outrage over the new regulations (PTI) Check Offers The Delhi government has put a pause on the sale of fuel for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the national capital. The government issued a mandate banning fuel sales to diesel vehicles over 10 years old, and petrol vehicles over 15 years old, from July 1, 2025, in a bid to curb air pollution. The Delhi transport department and traffic police have been impounding ELVs since the start of this month. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has written to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold its directions mandating a ban on fuel sales to end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The decision comes amidst huge public outcry over the new laws that forced many well-kept vehicles off the road. Also Read : Delhi fuel ban on overage vehicles sparks outrage. Here's what people said Technological challenges to implement fuel ban The minister cited 'technological challenges and complex systems," as the reason for the pause on the decision. The environment minister said that a system to seize poorly maintained vehicles is being worked out, rather than punishing people who take care of their cars and motorcycles. Customers argued that the government did not care about the health of the vehicle, as much as the age, forcing owners to upgrade to newer vehicles instead. 'We urge the Commission to put the implementation of Direction No. 89 on hold with immediate effect till the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is seamlessly integrated across the entire NCR," the minister said in the letter to CAQM, according to ANI. "We are confident that the ongoing multi-pronged efforts of the Delhi Government will achieve substantial improvements in air quality," it added. Over 62 lakh overage vehicles affected by latest order Data suggests that over 62 lakh vehicles, including cars, two-wheelers, trucks, and vintage vehicles, were affected by the CAQM order. As per the new regulations, the end-of-life vehicles were to be identified by cameras set up across the 498 fuel stations in the national capital. These cameras were connected to the central database and would cross-verify number plates. The system would then alert the fuel operator about the ELV status, who would then deny fuel to the vehicle. "Because of the technological inconsistencies of this extremely complex system and lack of integration with neighbouring states, there is public discontent and outcry and in the said circumstances, it is not feasible to implement this system to end of life vehicles identified through ANPR cameras installed at Petrol pumps in Delhi," the minister said. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras not equipped to identify HSRPs The Delhi government now says that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras used to identify ELVs, 'did not constitute a robust system," because the system can't yet identify the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP), which are mandatory on all cars in Delhi-NCR since April 2019. Furthermore, the minister in his letter listed several steps taken by the Delhi government to combat air pollution. This includes implementing a new pollution under control (PUC) certificate regime to ensure stricter compliance, specifically for out of state vehicles. The government is also planning to create a new system that will send an SMS to ELV owners two to three months ahead of the planned phase-out. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 03 Jul 2025, 20:28 PM IST
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- The Hindu
Traffic police gear up for crackdown on non-HSRP vehicles in Hyderabad
In a bid to enforce long-pending vehicle safety regulations, the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police, in coordination with the Telangana Transport Department, are set to launch a large-scale enforcement drive against vehicles that have not been fitted with High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs). Senior officials confirmed that while enforcement of this provision is permitted under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, the implementation in Hyderabad has so far been sporadic and uncoordinated. 'We are now preparing to roll out strict enforcement drive in coordination with the Transport Department,' said Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis. Cyberabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Gajarao Bhupal noted that while challans have been issued under the 'irregular number plate' category, enforcement has lacked systematic execution and uniformity. 'We are now working to ensure HSRP plates are first installed on all government vehicles to set an example,' he added. As per the data shared by the Cyberabad Traffic department, between January 1 and June 19, 2025, Cyberabad police recorded 32,448 number plate violations, including 15,146 for improper or irregular plates, 5,755 for erased plates, 5,431 for fancy plates, and 5,244 for vehicles without any number plates. An additional 872 cases involved tampered plates. Mahesh Malhotra, Secretary of the High Security Registration Plates Association of India, described the situation in Hyderabad as a clear case of regulatory lapse. 'The number of older vehicles fitted with HSRPs in Telangana is negligible when compared to other States. Lack of awareness, enforcement gaps, and the Telangana government's delay in issuing HSRP procedures for older vehicles are the key reasons for non-compliance,' he said. The Supreme Court of India, through its order dated April 9, 2025, has instructed all States and Union Territories to file compliance reports on the affixation of HSRPs to older vehicles and enforcement actions under the Motor Vehicles Act by June 30. However, in a May 2, 2025 letter from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) outlining the national progress on HSRP installation, data from Telangana was missing. 'Without data submission or integration with the Vahan and Sarathi portals, Telangana's status remains uncertain,' said Malhotra. HSRPs play a vital role in ensuring vehicular security and law enforcement. Equipped with tamper-proof snap locks and laser-etched serial numbers, these plates are linked to Vahan database, allowing agencies to track stolen vehicles, verify registration data, and issue automated challans via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
HSRP mandatory for vehicle ownership transfer, says RTO
Nashik: Vehicle owners without high security registration plates (HSRP) may face restrictions in conducting Regional Transport Office (RTO) related activities, as the RTO has established HSRP registration as a prerequisite for certain services. For vehicles registered before April 2019, HSRPs have been made compulsory, with a compliance deadline of June 2025. The implementation in Nashik has received limited participation. "There are an estimated 10 lakh vehicles registered before April 2019. As of now, around 1.4 lakh vehicles registered for the HSRPs, out of which close to 1 lakh motorists have fixed them. The work of fixing these number plates is underway at the authorised centres spread across the 10 talukas in the jurisdiction of our office," said Rajashree Gund, the deputy RTO of Nashik. The online registration system has not garnered sufficient response. Consequently, the RTO has decided to withhold processing certain applications unless the vehicle owner has either installed HSRP or completed online registration. The RTO will not process applications regarding vehicle ownership transfer, RC address modifications, hypothecation-related matters, no objection certificates, or vehicle alterations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Rajashree Gund clarified that applicants with scheduled HSRP installation appointments can submit their appointment receipt alongside other documentation for application processing. MS FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd has been designated as the official agency for HSRP installation in Nashik, operating 76 centres throughout the district. Vehicle owners are advised to register for HSRP online at or before June 30. The HSRP fees are: Rs 450 plus GST for two-wheelers, Rs 500 plus GST for three-wheelers, and Rs 745 plus GST for four-wheelers and larger vehicles.
