Pricey Plates

Maharashtra’s transport department has embarked on a fresh enforcement drive, cracking down on fancy number plates and mandating High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) for vehicles. While such measures may be well-intentioned in their aim to curb theft and standardise identification, the timing and cost of implementation raise pertinent questions. In a state where pothole-ridden roads, chaotic traffic and frequent wrong-side driving are routine hazards for commuters, is imposing additional costs on citizens the best use of resources?

The urgency with which the authorities are enforcing this mandate is striking. A special drive that began on February 18 will run until mid-March, with transport officials ordered to inspect vehicles daily. Those found flouting the HSRP rule will be fined, and non-compliance could lead to harsher penalties. Vehicles registered after April 1, 2019 are required to have HSRPs, and their owners must comply by April 30 this year or face fines of Rs. 1,000. The government has even appointed three private agencies to handle the installation across different zones in the state. The initiative, however, is riddled with practical concerns.

To begin with, compliance rates remain abysmally low. Of the over 1.5 crore vehicles eligible for HSRPs, only five lakh have made the switch so far. The plates cost between Rs. 531 and Rs. 879, no small sum for the average two-wheeler or car owner, especially in a state grappling with economic pressures. For many, this new mandate appears less about road safety and more about revenue collection, with private agencies benefitting at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Moreover, if the government is so eager to enforce traffic regulations, there are far more pressing issues that warrant attention. The roads in Mumbai and Pune, Maharashtra’s largest cities, are in a state of perpetual disrepair. Traffic congestion is endemic, with narrow roads unable to cope with the rising number of vehicles. Lawless driving remains rampant with wrong-side driving, signal jumping and reckless overtaking daily occurrences. Yet, rather than investing in better road infrastructure or improving enforcement of traffic rules, the government seems determined to make vehicle owners foot the bill for an additional bureaucratic requirement.

The authorities argue that HSRPs are essential for curbing vehicle theft and streamlining identification. The plates, made of a rare aluminium alloy, feature a tamper-proof hologram of the Ashok Chakra, a retro-reflective film and a unique laser-etched serial number. These security features make it harder for stolen vehicles to be resold or re-registered under a false identity. While this is a valid concern, it is unclear why the entire financial burden must be shouldered by vehicle owners. Should the state not bear at least a portion of the costs, given that road safety and crime prevention are public responsibilities?

Maharashtra’s roads and traffic management are in dire need of reform. While standardised number plates may offer benefits, they are hardly the most pressing concern. If the government is serious about road safety, it would do well to focus on smoother roads, better traffic policing and stricter enforcement of existing rules. Maharashtra’s motorists do not need a more expensive number plate; they need roads worth driving on.