Latest news with #HighSecurityRegistrationPlates
The Hindu
3 days ago
- 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.'
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
CAQM defers fuel ban for end-of-life vehicles in Delhi-NCR to Nov
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to extend the timeline for enforcing a key provision of its statutory direction, which mandates denial of fuel and legal action against End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Following its 24th full Commission meeting held on Monday, CAQM announced that enforcement will now begin on November 1, 2025, in Delhi and five high vehicle density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat. The remainder of the NCR will see implementation from April 1, 2026. The amendment was driven by the Government of NCT Delhi (GNCTD)'s concerns about the operational readiness of the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system — a key tool for detecting EoL vehicles at fuel stations. According to a July 3 2025 letter from GNCTD, the system currently suffers from a range of issues, including technological glitches, poor camera placement, and sensor malfunctions. It was also noted that the system has not been fully integrated with neighbouring NCR states' databases, making it difficult to identify vehicles with incomplete or missing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP). GNCTD flags legal, operational concerns GNCTD officials had argued that enforcing a fuel ban solely within Delhi would be counterproductive and legally problematic, especially when the same vehicles remain roadworthy in neighbouring jurisdictions. They cautioned that such selective implementation could drive illegal fuel purchases from adjacent districts, thereby undermining the policy's effectiveness and fostering a black market. Citing Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, GNCTD's Chief Secretary warned against defining EoL status based purely on vehicle age, without considering actual emission levels, usage, or mechanical condition. Unified roll-out across NCR To address these concerns, CAQM decided to adopt a staggered enforcement strategy. 'All EoL vehicles identified through the ANPR cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations shall be denied fueling,' the Commission said, adding that the roll-out will occur in two phases — November 2025 for Delhi and key NCR districts, and April 2026 for the rest of the region. This approach is intended to provide authorities with additional time to strengthen the ANPR system, standardise enforcement protocols across jurisdictions, and ensure all stakeholders — including fuel stations — are adequately prepared. The Transport Departments of NCR states and GNCTD have been directed to expedite the trial and training for the ANPR system, ensure timely manpower deployment, and report monthly progress to the Commission. They are also required to raise awareness among stakeholders and strictly enforce the revised timelines. CAQM emphasised that EoL vehicles, once identified, must face appropriate legal action — including impounding — regardless of whether they are caught via ANPR systems, manual checks, or any other mechanism.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Fuel ban for overage vehicles deferred in Delhi until November 1
Citing 'technological' and 'cross-border fuelling' concerns, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday deferred the implementation of its direction to deny fuel to end-of-life (EoL) vehicles in Delhi. The enforcement of the ban will now begin from November 1, said officials. According to sources at the CAQM, the ban will be enforced in the Capital along with five high vehicle density districts of Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Sonipat. The CAQM's decision came after a review meeting was held earlier in the day. The decision follows a written request from Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who flagged 'critical operational and infrastructural challenges' in rolling out the measures outlined in Direction No. 89, issued on April 23. The CAQM direction had initially mandated that the denial of fuel and legal action against old vehicles identified using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras at fuel pumps would commence from As per the latest decision, the CAQM will enforce the ban in the rest of the NCR on April 1, 2026, sticking to its initial date. Earlier in his letter, Sirsa pointed to widespread glitches in the ANPR systems, including faulty sensors, poor camera placement, and failure to detect vehicles lacking High Security Registration Plates (HSRP). He also flagged the lack of system integration with vehicle databases in neighbouring states, warning of fuel tourism and a potential illegal cross-border market. Sirsa said that 'immediate implementation… may be premature and potentially counter-productive'. The move to enforce a fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles (EoLVs) in Delhi stems from long-standing orders of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT), which bar 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles from plying in the city.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi govt reverses fuel ban on old vehicles
In a significant U-turn, the Delhi government announced the rollback of its contentious policy that restricted fuel supply to older vehicles, just two days after its implementation sparked widespread public anger and operational challenges. The ban, which came into effect on July 1, aimed to deny fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in an effort to combat air pollution. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the decision, stating that the "End-of-Life" (EOL) vehicle policy would be put on hold until further notice. He acknowledged several "unresolved issues" and "technological challenges" that rendered the immediate enforcement impractical and caused significant inconvenience to citizens. The initial policy, based on a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), mandated petrol pumps to cease refueling such Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed at fuel stations to identify and deny fuel. However, reports quickly emerged of malfunctioning sensors, difficulties in reading High Security Registration Plates (HSRP), and a lack of seamless integration with vehicle data from neighboring NCR regions like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. Minister Sirsa highlighted that the government remains committed to reducing pollution but will not "inconvenience citizens through hasty enforcement." He further suggested that any future ban should be based on actual pollution levels of a vehicle rather than merely its age, and emphasised the need for a uniform application across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) to prevent vehicle owners from simply refueling in adjacent cities without such restrictions. The sudden enforcement had led to a surge of public criticism from vehicle owners, transport unions, and opposition parties, many of whom argued that the measure was arbitrary, disproportionate, and unfairly impacted those who maintained their older vehicles well. With over 62 lakh EOL vehicles in Delhi , including a substantial number of two-wheelers, the policy had the potential to severely disrupt daily commutes and livelihoods.6 The Delhi High Court had also issued notices to the Delhi government and CAQM on a plea by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, which deemed the enforcement unfair and unworkable for private operators.7 For now, the rollback offers temporary relief to thousands of vehicle owners in Delhi. The government's focus is now expected to shift towards addressing the technical hurdles and developing a more balanced and inclusive approach to tackle vehicular pollution in the capital.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Premature, ...counterproductive': Delhi government says fuel ban not feasible
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to defer the enforcement of a recent directive banning fuel supply to end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, citing serious technological challenges and growing public discontent. The request came through a letter sent by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who reiterated the government's support for air pollution mitigation but called the fuel ban 'premature and potentially counterproductive.' The ban, mandated under CAQM's Direction No. 89 dated April 23, came into effect on July 1 and prohibits petrol stations from refuelling vehicles that are 10 years or older for diesel and 15 years or older for petrol, as per existing court orders. Sirsa told the media on Thursday that the ban has sparked anger among residents. 'People are unhappy. The government is with them,' he said, placing the blame for 'rigid norms' on the previous AAP government. According to Sirsa's letter, the enforcement via Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems has exposed 'crucial operational and infrastructural shortcomings.' These include malfunctioning sensors and cameras, incomplete integration with databases of neighbouring states, and the system's inability to detect vehicles with missing or faulty High Security Registration Plates (HSRP). TNIE had highlighted these operational and implementation issues in a detailed report on May 30, after visiting over a dozen fuel pumps. The minister also argued that unless the ban is implemented uniformly across the entire National Capital Region (NCR), it risks pushing vehicle owners to procure fuel from neighbouring districts such as Gurugram or Ghaziabad, potentially creating an underground fuel economy. Sirsa said the Delhi government is already executing a multi-pronged pollution control strategy, from massive tree plantation drives to stricter Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms and trials of cloud seeding.
