High Security Personalised Number Plates Postponed

With just a week left to the deadline for implementing the high-security registration  number plate scheme, the Delhi government is stuck in a strange situation.

Personalised Number Plate L86

The agency engaged by the government to execute the project has sub-tendered it, in contrary to the Supreme Court’s recommendation of the single-vendor process. Now, the Delhi government has sent the proposal to the law department for a way to save the project as well as meet the deadline of December 31, 2011, said sources.

A senior government official said, “The court order is being scrutinized by the law department. The single-vendor clause may prove to be an obstacle as the present proposal is not along these lines.”

According to officials, the agency, DIMTS, which has been engaged to implement the scheme, has hired a sub-contractor to procure the high security registration plates (HSRP). “According to the current proposal, the plates will be procured by DIMTS through another vendor though embossing will be done by the agency itself,” the official said.

DIMTS will also undertake to fit the plates to the vehicles at the centres identified by the transport department. Sources said the entire scheme was ready, including the rates. “If the single vendor is not insisted upon, the scheme can be notified within a week,” said the official.

The rates have been decided, added the source. The vendor will charge between Rs 80 (for two wheelers) and Rs 230 (for four wheelers) while DIMTS is asking the government to pay it Rs 100 per plate for the embossing. This is besides the service tax that will be charged at the rate of 12%. “The rate at which these registration plates will be available in the transport centres is around Rs 330-350,” said the source.

HSRP consists of a number of parts: a chromium-based hologram with chakra image, a self-destructive sticker with the engine, chassis number and a hologram, unique serial number etched with laser on each HSRP, India scripted with hot stamping foil and a non-removable and non-reusable snap lock.