Why has Karnataka extended deadline again for motorists to install high-security registration plates?  Premium

The department issued a notification in August 2023 mandating the installation of HSRP on an estimated two crore vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, setting a November 17, 2023, deadline

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In Karnataka, despite the State transport department setting deadlines for the installation of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on all vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, the lack of awareness among vehicle owners has resulted in the government extending the deadline three times.

The Karnataka Government has extended the deadline for HSRP installation in vehicles to May 31, 2024. The department issued a notification in August 2023 mandating the installation of HSRP on an estimated two crore vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, setting a November 17, 2023, deadline. However, as very few people installed the HSRP, the department extended the deadline till February 17, 2024, and now the government again extended the deadline till May 31, 2024, since the transition progress was sluggish.

HSRP is a new form of number plate that is tamper proof and has non reusable locks. This means once a number plate is fixed, it can only be removed by breaking the lock, which is not easy to replace.

According to a Transport Department official, all the HSRP plates will have a similar font and design, having a ‘Chakra’ on the left side in blue colour. The rest of the plate colour is decided based on the vehicle type. For example, white background with black numbers is for private vehicles. There’s also “INDIA” hot stamped on the number plate.

The HSRP includes a unique 10-digit number connected to the vehicle chassis and engine numbers stored in a centralized database. Cars receive two such numbers — one for the front and one for the rear plate. A windshield sticker displays the vehicle’s registration date, registration number, and the two HSRP identification numbers. For two-wheelers, a single 10-digit number is engraved on the rear plate, and no sticker or card is issued.

The regular number plates are made by pasting stickers on the plate, which can be easily tampered with and were used for getting away after committing an offense.