Pune, 14 August 2025: In Pimpri-Chinchwad, thousands of private vehicle owners with pre-2019 registrations are rushing to install High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) before the August 15 deadline. However, many government vehicles, including public transport buses and police patrol cars, are yet to comply, raising concerns about double standards in enforcement.
According to transport department figures, the Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO has registered over 24 lakh vehicles, of which more than 15 lakh were registered before 2019. Yet, only around 18.5% of these older vehicles have had HSRPs installed in the eight months since the order was issued.
Local transport and police officials have acknowledged the delay. The transport office says the rule applies equally to private and government vehicles, and state institutions have been asked to complete installation promptly. The traffic police have set August 30 as the target date for fitting HSRPs on all their vehicles.
Many residents feel enforcement is skewed. They point out that private owners are fined immediately for non-compliance, while state-run vehicles continue to operate without penalties. Transport authorities insist that installation work is in progress across all government fleets, including Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal buses, MSRTC vehicles, and police patrol units.
The government had authorised three private companies to install HSRPs across 56 regional and sub-regional transport offices in Maharashtra from January 1. The deadline is now approaching, and Pune’s twin city will soon reveal whether the rule has been applied equally to all on the road.