Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority, Odisha (STA) has issued challans against 2,674 vehicles without high-security registration plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stickers in the last 11 days.
The challans are being issued in accordance with the last date given for various series of vehicles. The deadline for affixation of HSRP on the old vehicles registered prior to April 1, 2019, carrying Odisha Registration Mark and Registration Number ending with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 ended on December 31, 2022. The deadline for vehicle numbers ending with 7 & 8 ended on January 31, 2023, while for those ending with 9 & 0, the last date for affixation of HSRP is February 28, 2023, an STA release said on Wednesday.
In January, the transport department warned vehicle owners of stern action under the Motor Vehicle Act and drives are being conducted across the state to crack the whip on the violators.
“As on February 13, 2023, a total of 38,49,498 vehicle owners have booked slots, out of which HSRP has been affixed in 31,65,850 vehicles. In case a vehicle is not affixed with HSRP within the scheduled date, e-challans shall be issued against the offending vehicles and attract a fine of Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 under Section 192 of the MV Act, 1988 as the case may be,” said Additional Commissioner Transport (Enforcement), LM Sethi.
He further said a majority of vehicles fined are two-wheelers. “A penalty of Rs 5,000 has been imposed on the violators. In future, stricter actions will be taken against the violators,” he added.
Affixation of HSRP mandatory since June 1, 2022, is mandatory for all classes of old vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, as per the directives of the Supreme Court of India, the Union government amended Rule 50 of CMVR and Notifications/Statutory Orders from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
