HSRP are also popularly called as ‘IND’ or INDIA number plates.
| Photo Credit:
The Maharashtra Transport Department on Monday warned that it would start taking strict action from July 1 if vehicles are found operating without the mandatory High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).The police and transport authorities will jointly or independently take action under Rule 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, against the vehicles (registered before April 1, 2019) found without HSRP after the June 30 deadline, the transport department said in a statement.Vehicle owners who have booked an authorised appointment for HSRP installation on or before June 30 will be given temporary relief from the enforcement drive beginning July 1, 2026.Several Regional Transport Office (RTO) services, including transfer of ownership, change of address, hypothecation endorsement or termination, re-registration, vehicle alteration and permit renewal, will not be available for vehicles that have not been fitted with HSRP.The restriction, however, will not apply to the renewal of fitness certificates, it said.The state government has appointed three companies for the job after a tendering process last year. Since December 2024, the companies began fitment of HSRP.The state has appointed three agencies for HSRP installation across different zones -- Rosmerta Technologies Ltd, Real Industries Ltd and FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd.Little interestA senior transport department official said that, as of June 29, 2026, owners of only 1.08 crore vehicles had booked appointments for HSRP fitment, against the estimated 2.10 crore vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, that are required to install the plates.Majority of vehicles installed with HSRP are from urban areas, while vehicle owners in rural regions have shown little interest in getting the plates installed.The Maharashtra government, however, did not disclose the exact number of vehicles that have been fitted with HSRP.Why HSRP?HSRP are also popularly called as 'IND' or INDIA number plates.To curb the theft of vehicles and bring uniformity in their identity marks, the Union government has made HSRP mandatory for every newly registered vehicle from April 1, 2019, putting the onus on manufacturers to install them to every new vehicle before handing them over to the customers.Made of a rare aluminum alloy, HSRP contains a retro-reflective film with a verification inscription 'India', a chromium-based Ashok Chakra hologram, the hot-stamped letter "IND" in blue, and a 10-digit laser-branding of a unique serial number, making it tamper-proof.Published on June 29, 2026
