Nothing Special In HSRPs, Just Following SC Orders: Atchannaidu 

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister K Atchannaidu today said there was "nothing special" in the High Security Registration Plates but the state government is motivating people to get it fixed for vehicles in line with the Supreme Court orders. "Except a small hologram and a number, there is nothing special in the HSRPs," the minister said.

"There is also no high security in them but since the supreme court ordered and the government of India directed, we are asking vehicle owners to install them," he added. Replying to a question by TDP MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar in the state Assembly, the minister said HSRPs have been made mandatory for all new vehicles while it would be fixed to all old vehicles in the state in a phased manner.

The MLA, however, took exception to the minister's remarks and pointed out that the HSRPs had snap locks and laser stamping that made them tamper-proof. "It is not right for the minister to say the HSRPs are of no use. What will people think if the minister responds like this," Ganesh Kumar said. He said the apex court judgment in February 2012 made it mandatory that all vehicles be fitted with HSRPs by August 31, 2016.

"That hasn't happened till date. The government does not have sincerity (in implementing the apex court's order)," the ruling party MLA said. The minister, however, said of the 1.05 crore vehicles in the state, 32.10 lakh of all categories have been fitted with HSRPs. Over 70 lakh remaining vehicles would be covered in a phased manner, he added.

"The government is reviewing the implementation of HSRPs from time to time. The HSRPs will be fixed to all vehicles in a phased manner," he said. Since they were unique, the plates were not available everywhere except regional transport authority offices, the minister said.

"We have invited tenders for the HSRPs through the state Road Transport Corporation and offering them at lower prices so that vehicle owners do not face problems." The government is first creating awareness among people and motivating them to get the new plates fitted, Atchannaidu said. "If we start penalising vehicle owners, the MLAs themselves will agitate. So, we are first educating people," the minister said. (PTI)