Transport associations protest ‘exorbitant’ price of high security registration plates in Maharashtra

Pune: Several transport associations will hold a protest in front of the regional transport office in the city on Friday against the “exorbitant price” of high-security registration plates (HSRPs) in the state.
Nitin Pawar, the general secretary of autorickshaw union Rickshaw Panchayat, said that compared to other states, the cost of HSRPs was very high in Maharashtra. “If the Maharashtra govt doesn’t lower the cost of the same, we will stage protests across the state. There was a meeting recently in which many unions participated, and they all agreed to the same,” he said.
In Pune, around 25 lakh vehicles need to have HSRPs by April 30. Until now, roughly around 25,000 vehicles have got them, and 1.12 lakh vehicles applied for the same. Across the state, around 2 crore vehicles need to have HSRPs. In an earlier conversation, state transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said that the deadline could be extended, if needed.
Rajan Junawane, the president of Pune District Bus and Car Owners’ Association, said that they will participate in the protest. “In states like Goa, Gujarat, etc., the cost of HSRPs is very low. We don’t understand why the cost has been kept so high in Maharashtra. The transport business is already going through losses due to high fuel cost and other factors,” Junawane said.

The cost of an HSRP for two-wheelers and tractors in Maharashtra is Rs 450 excluding 18% GST. The same for three-wheelers stands is Rs 500, and for light motor vehicles, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, trailers, etc., the same is Rs 745. “In Goa, the state charges Rs 155 for HSRP for three-wheelers. For heavy vehicles, Goa charges just Rs 203. Similar are the rates in other neighbouring states as well. It seems that high prices have been fixed to fill the deficit of the freebie schemes announced by the govt,” Pawar said.
A transport department official said that the rates were fixed by the state govt. “We have been appealing to all to complete the online process and get the HSRPs without any delay. The process is simple, and RTOs have been told to help in case of any complications,” the official said.