Re-registration of Vehicles will be Hassle-free, Says State Transport Dept

HYDERABAD:Amid din surrounding re-registration of vehicle numbers, officials of the Telangana transport department have said that the process would be hassle-free. But indicated that people have to shell out money for High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

It is learnt that a letter was sent from the transport department to GV Ramana Rao, joint managing director of TSRTC - nodal agency for HSRP implementation, regarding the change in registration numbers.

The company which is given contract of fixing the plates would submit a proposal to TSRTC on how it would handle a rush of 74.7 lakh vehicles whose state code will be changed from ‘AP’ to ‘TS’.

While a GO was issued on Thursday stating all vehicles registered in 10 Telangana districts of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh have to change the state codes, and district codes too, officials are storming brains on how the process should be carried on: time it would take for the process to be completed, where can people pay for the procedure, and other details.

In short, it will take time for details to be finalised. Officials said transport commissioner would forward a file listing out suggested guidelines to principal secretary’s office, and a decision would be taken thereafter.

Payment for the number plates would irk those vehicle owners who got HSRP plates with AP Code. They might have to pay the amount to be approved in coming days. The process of fixing HSRP was initiated from December 2013 and was stopped briefly from May 2014.

There are other points of consternation such as time taken to issue the plates. Often, motorists complain that they had to wait for over two months, visit more than three times, to get hold of the plates. Putting all such anxieties to rest, Sandeep Kumar Sultania, transport commissioner said, ‘’The process will be people-friendly and hassle-free.’’

Ardent believers of numerology, penchant for fancy numbers, or lucky numbers. These reasons drove people to spend up to Rs 8 lakh to claim fancy vehicle registration numbers such as 9999 or 8055. In a breather to people holding such fascination or beliefs, they can retain their favourite or lucky numbers. The GO said that last four numerical digits will not be disturbed.