AP- Andhra Pradesh HSRP Deadline Nears with Only 5% Compliance as Extension Discussions Continue

Andhra Pradesh, With the February 17 deadline for installing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on all vehicles fast approaching, only about 5% of the nearly two crore vehicles have complied, according to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

This marks the second deadline set by the Transport Department, and with low compliance, the possibility of another extension is being considered. Minister Reddy indicated to The Hindu that the department will soon hold a meeting to discuss whether the deadline should be extended again.

In August 2023, the department issued a notification requiring all vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, to install HSRPs by November 17, 2023. Due to low compliance, the deadline was extended to February 17.

Department sources told The Hindu that extending the deadline may be the only way to encourage more vehicle owners to comply. “An extension of the deadline is likely soon. The department aims to increase awareness about the rule and the benefits of HSRPs,” an official noted.

The HSRPs feature a permanent identification number and a chromium-based hologram, making them resistant to tampering. The notification issued on August 17 specifies penalties ranging from ₹500 to ₹1,000 for non-compliance.

However, the mandate has faced opposition, particularly from the Akhila Karnataka Vehicle Number Plates Manufacturers and Sellers’ Association, which has challenged the rule in the Karnataka High Court.