INTRODUCTION OF NEW HIGH SECURITY REGISTRATION PLATES POSTPONED
The
number of motor vehicles in the country has increased from 3,06
lakh in 1950-51, to 53.91 lakh in 1980-81 and now to above 5 crore.
In order to check theft and misuse of motor vehicles and also
to provide easy identification on the road, the Government has
plans to introduce the system of High Security Registration Plates.
This has become all the more essential in the currently prevailing
security environment and the threat of terrorist activities.
The Standing Technical
Committee of Central Motor Vehicles Rules set up by the Ministry
on 15th September, 1997, recommended the use of High
Security Registration Plates in May, 1999. Before doing so, the
Committee studied the prevalent security features on number plates
in different countries. Such plates are tamper-proof and cannot
be easily removed and replaced.
Accordingly, a Gazette Notification
was issued on 28.12.2000. After duly considering the suggestions
and comments received from the public, the Gazette Notification
was notified on 28.3.2001. Subsequently, two statutory orders
dated 22.8.2001 and 16.10.2001 were issued by the Ministry. This
was done to clarify the provisions of the Gazette Notification
dated 28.3.2001. The Technical Standing Committee and other testing
agencies were consulted before the above-mentioned two clarifications
were issued. In these clarifications, incorporation of 24-spoke
Chakra in the hologram was notified. Space allocation for the
various items of information such as identification of the registering
authority, engine number, chassis number, laser branded permanent
identification number in the third sticker were also given. It
was also clarified that such plates would have to be necessarily
affixed within the premises of the registering authority and that
a proper record of these plates would have to be maintained. The
clarification also stated that the States, if they so desired,
could select one or more vendors for supply of Registration Plates.
Briefly the High Security Registration
Plates contain the following security features:
i) The Chromium hologram, which
is not easily replicable.
ii) A Retro reflective film, bearing
a verification inscription "INDIA" at 45 degree inclination,
which cannot be easily replicated.
iii) Laser numbering, which is
unique in nature containing alpha numeric identification
of both Testing Agencies and the manufacturers.
iv) The registration numbers to
be embossed on the plates to make it difficult to be replicated.
In addition, there are certain
security features, which are specific to the type of registration
plates namely:
a) In case of
rear registration plate, same is fitted with a non-reuseable
snap lock.
b) A chromium
foil based third registration plate in form of sticker
is to be attached to the wind shield, wherein the number
of engine and chassis are indicated along with the name
of registering authority.
c) In front and
rear registration plates, letter IND in blue colour is
hot-stamped.
Adequate precautions have
been taken by way of informing the International Holographic Manufacturers'
Association and instructing the Testing Agencies to ensure that
the hologram is the property of Government and is not claimed
as a proprietary right by any hologram manufacturer/prospective
vendor. The Testing Agencies have been asked to ensure incorporation
of suitable conditions to this effect in the Certificates which
are to be issued by them to vendors.
Central Road Research Institute,
New Delhi (CRRI), Automotive Research Association of India, Pune
(ARAI) and Vehicles Research Development Establishment, Ahmednagar
(VRDE), have been authorized by the Ministry's Gazette Notification
to test and issue the Type Approval Certificates to prospective
vendors, whose samples meet the standards and specifications prescribed
by the Ministry's Gazette Notification. So far CRRI, New Delhi
and ARAI, Pune have taken up testing in this regard. Any prospective
vendor can approach these Agencies. Only those vendors who obtain
the Type Approval Certificates from these Testing Agencies would
be eligible to participate in the process of selection to be undertaken
by the States. As per information available, samples of five number
of vendors are under testing and about same number more have approached
the Agencies. As on date, no vendor has got the Type Approval
Certificate.
The original date for introduction
of the Plates was 28.9.2001. This date was changed to 30.6.2002,
as no vendor had got the Type Approval and the States were also
not ready to implement the scheme.
Even now no vendor has got
the Type Approval Certificate. Several States have already requested
for a postponement on the ground that their selection process
is dependent on availability of adequate number of eligible vendors.
Therefore, now a decision has been taken to postpone the date
of introduction of Plates to 28.2.2003. All new vehicles registered
on or after 28.2.2003 will have to use the New High Security Registration
Plates.
A period of two years thereafter
will be available to already registered vehicles to switch over
to the New Plates i.e. the owners of existing vehicles will have
time till 28.2.2005 to switch over to the new High Security Registration
Plates.
The new colour scheme for
existing registration plates (i.e. black letters on yellow background
for transport vehicles and black letters on white background for
non transport vehicles) has been implemented for transport vehicles
w.e.f 28.2.2002 and has been mandated for non transport vehicles
on or before 1.7.2002.
