Only 52 lakh vehicles in Karnataka have HSRP; Sept. 15 is the deadline

Deadline approaching for High-Security Registration Plates in Karnataka, with 1.4 crore vehicles yet to comply, facing fines.

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With the deadline fast approaching, only 52 lakh vehicles in Karnataka have the mandated High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP), leaving a staggering 1.4 crore still without them, according to the Transport Department. Despite this significant shortfall, the department has stated that the deadline for fixing them will not be extended beyond September 15. Any vehicle found without the HSRP after this date will face a fine of ₹500.

“Starting from September 16, we, along with the traffic police, will begin a special drive. Any vehicle found without the HSRP number plate will be fined ₹500. This will be done all across Karnataka, especially in areas with a high volume of vehicles,” said Mallikarjuna C., Additional Transport Commissioner (Enforcement South).

In August 2023, the department issued a notification mandating HSRP for vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019, initially setting a deadline of November 17, 2023. However, the slow pace of compliance led to the deadline being extended three times — first to November 17, 2023, then to February 17, 2024, and later to May 17, 2024. This is now the fourth deadline set by the department.

Vehicle owners have faced a series of issues. They range from long wait times at installation centres to delays in plate availability. Some say they have got incorrect number plates despite filling in the correct information on the HSRP registration website. Many others have not been able to book appointments for the plates online. There are several people who are either unaware of the HSRP requirements or do not know how to get the plates fixed.

Ravi Kumar, a resident of Rajajinagar, said, “I am unable to book my HSRP as the vehicle registration number is not recognised as Karnataka-registered, which is very strange. Despite raising a couple of complaints, there has been no resolution. I also tried with another car registered in Karnataka, and the issue persists with the same error.”

Similarly, Muralidhar Murthy from Banaswadi said, “When HSRP was implemented, there were long wait times at installation centres and delays in plate availability. For months, I have faced challenges booking HSRP plates online, such as the website declining requests or not recognising my vehicle registration number.”