Pune: In a decisive move to boost compliance, the Pune district transport department has announced that Regional Transport Office (RTO) services will now be restricted for vehicles that have not installed High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) or failed to register for them. This directive will impact around 21 lakh vehicles in the district.
Out of the 26 lakh registered vehicles in Pune, only 5 lakh owners have registered for HSRP so far, and just half of those—about 2.5 lakh—have had the plates fitted. With a significant number of vehicles still non-compliant, the transport authorities have imposed strict service limitations to accelerate the installation drive.
Despite the mandate, a large section of vehicle owners remains unaware of the HSRP registration process, resulting in confusion and widespread non-compliance. In other parts of Maharashtra, a similarly lukewarm response has been noted, prompting the Transport Commissioner to direct all RTOs to withhold key services for vehicles without HSRPs.
Urban-rural logistics are also complicating the rollout. For instance, many vehicles registered in metro areas like Mumbai operate in rural regions, making centralized installation efforts difficult to manage.
The department has clarified that several services will be suspended for vehicles lacking HSRP installation. These include:
Vehicle ownership transfers
Address changes in the Registration Certificate (RC)
Hypothecation addition/removal
Issuance of duplicate RC
No Objection Certificates (NOC)
Vehicle modification approvals
However, officials have been instructed not to hinder critical renewals—such as fitness certificates for older vehicles or license and registration renewals for private vehicles—even if HSRP registration is pending.
While the deadline for HSRP installation has been extended to June 30, the sheer volume of pending registrations has pushed appointment availability into August. The good news: vehicles that have already registered for HSRP installation will not experience service delays, as RTO staff have been told to verify booking receipts and proceed with processing.
To streamline the process, the transport department has made both online and offline HSRP registration options available. Citizens can register via the official transport website or seek assistance at E-Seva Kendras. Additionally, the Pune RTO has set up a helpdesk to handle HSRP-related queries.
Compliance Snapshot – Pune District:
Total registered vehicles: 26 lakh
HSRP registration completed: 5 lakh
Plates installed: 2.5 lakh
Vehicles yet to comply: 21 lakh
Deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosale has appealed to all vehicle owners to book their HSRP appointments at the earliest to avoid disruptions. He emphasized that those with confirmed bookings will not be denied services.
Authorities continue to urge swift action from vehicle owners to ensure compliance and avoid legal or procedural delays.
